A new report from Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office has raised questions about Elon Musk’s involvement in the federal government, alleging that the billionaire entrepreneur used his position as a “special government employee” to benefit his businesses, including Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, Business Insider reports.
The report, released Tuesday, outlines 130 instances in which Musk is said to have leveraged his role within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to advance his personal and professional interests. While some actions are described as violations of federal ethics rules, others are characterized as breaches of long-standing norms for government employees.
“In many cases, Musk has violated norms at an astonishing pace, contributing to Trump administration actions that have benefitted his private interests while hurting the American public,” the report reads.
However, the document stops short of alleging criminal conduct.
Musk was appointed to DOGE earlier this year with a mandate to improve government efficiency and reduce wasteful spending. The office claims it has saved taxpayers $180 billion since its inception. Yet Warren’s office argues that Musk’s dual roles as a public official and CEO of multiple companies present a fundamental conflict of interest.
According to the report, several of Musk’s businesses have secured new or potential federal contracts since his appointment. The report also notes that regulatory actions previously facing Musk’s companies—amounting to more than $2.3 billion in potential liabilities—have stalled or been dropped in recent months. Agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have also seen budget cuts that could impact oversight of Musk’s businesses.
In addition, the report highlights recent policy changes from agencies like the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Securities and Exchange Commission that appear to align with the interests of Musk’s companies. It also raises concerns about his access to classified information and his role in nominating individuals with ties to his firms to federal posts.
Senator Warren has previously called for the creation of clearer conflict-of-interest rules, specifically naming Musk in her appeals. She argued that allowing such dual roles without formal guardrails could open the door to what she described as “corruption on a scale not seen in our lifetimes.”
The White House responded to the report with a statement from spokesperson Harrison Fields, defending Musk’s record:
“Elon Musk has done more to improve the lives of Americans and strengthen this country in just over 100 days than Sen. Warren has achieved in her over 10-year career… The President’s success through DOGE is undisputed, and his work will continue to yield historic results.”
Musk’s companies, including SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI, did not respond to media inquiries for comment at the time of publication.
