A recent report from Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office has raised serious concerns regarding Elon Musk’s conduct during his brief tenure in the Trump administration. This 14-page, $1.4 billion document outlines Musk’s supposed “130 days” at the helm of this new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). It further claims that he has misused the position to enrich himself and his business.
Musk recently completed his reign as a special government employee at the helm of DOGE. During his tenure, he helped steer OPM through an especially tumultuous period within the federal workforce and government agencies. The Department’s public report indicates that between greater than 100 times, Encinia abused his authority. He used this to go after agencies investigating his firms in order to further his own personal interests.
Musk’s tenure was known for deep cuts to federal spending. All the while, he opened up extremely profitable opportunities for contracts with his companies—as you likely guessed, Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI. The report outlines over two dozen instances where government entities either entered or explored contracts that would financially benefit Musk’s ventures.
Among many examples, the report brings to light a particularly remarkable one. In early 2022, Customs and Border Protection announced plans to use Musk’s Starlink technology in surveillance towers. It explains six cases in which enforcement actions against Musk’s companies were stopped while under Musk’s run DOGE.
Senator Warren, joined by two other Democratic senators this week, is demanding the Justice Department investigate any such conflicts of interest. They are especially concerned with DOGE staffers tied to equities in firms that were possibly enriched by their actions.
“This is scandalous behavior regardless of whether it subjects him to criminal prosecution.” – Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s office
The report emphasizes how Musk’s actions may have undermined governmental norms at an astonishing pace, raising questions about accountability and ethical governance.
Indeed, this scrutiny underlines that Musk has a long history of alleged conflicts of interest during his service in government. His unique position as the world’s richest person and CEO of multiple influential companies adds a layer of complexity to the discussions surrounding his involvement in government affairs.