CNN —

The U.S. Marshals Service has granted deputization to certain members of Elon Musk’s private security team, thereby extending them certain rights and federal law enforcement protections, according to three law enforcement officials who spoke to CNN.

The exact number of Musk’s security personnel who received this special deputy status remains unclear.

Currently, Musk, a technology billionaire and supporter of President Donald Trump, does not have a U.S. Secret Service detail. This lack of federal protection previously limited his security team’s capabilities in Washington, D.C.

With the new deputization, these individuals now enjoy expanded privileges, including the potential to carry firearms on federal property. Additionally, if any incident occurs involving the security detail, the Marshals Service could face legal liability, as per one law enforcement source.

CNN has reached out to both the Justice Department and the U.S. Marshals Service for further comments on this matter.

Individuals close to Trump’s administration have expressed surprise at the extensive security arrangements that have surrounded Musk since he began to frequently engage with Trump last year. His security detail was noted to be comparable only to that of the president.

Musk, who is now heading the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, has expressed heightened concerns regarding his security since Trump assumed office a month ago, alleging a rise in death threats against him, as revealed by a source with direct insight into his remarks.

During a recent interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Musk alluded to these safety concerns, stating on stage, “I don’t actually have a death wish.”

“It’s not enormous,” Musk remarked regarding his security team. “Maybe it should be bigger.”

The Marshals Service possesses the authority to deputize a variety of individuals at their discretion, including employees of the Justice Department, law enforcement personnel, and private security workers. This form of deputization, usually sanctioned by the deputy attorney general, is valid for one year, as outlined in a Justice Department manual.

The Marshals Service has previously deputized security details, such as that of Dr. Anthony Fauci, who received protection due to rising threats to his safety, in collaboration with the inspector general’s office at the Department of Health and Human Services.

However, law enforcement insiders have noted that the deputization of private security is an uncommon practice, particularly because these individuals are not currently part of law enforcement. One source characterized this action as “rare.”

Contributions to this report were made by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Steve Contorno, and Josh Campbell.