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A Democrat on Capitol Hill has introduced legislation that would ban “special government employees” like Elon Musk from receiving federal contracts.
Some shit you should know before you read: Over the last two weeks, concerns have amplified over Elon Musk’s growing role in the federal government through his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a Trump administration initiative that lacks traditional congressional or Senate oversight. Democrats and some media outlets have intensified their criticism, arguing that Musk is an unelected billionaire with unprecedented influence over government spending and policy. They point to his access to federal payment systems, potential conflicts of interest due to his businesses receiving federal contracts, and his role in shaping government efficiency policies that could benefit his own ventures. Meanwhile, defenders of Musk, including President Trump, insist that his role is strictly limited to cutting inefficiencies and eliminating wasteful federal programs, stressing that all major decisions require approval from higher officials.
What’s going on now: In an announcement, Congressman Mark Pocan (D-WI) introduced the Eliminate Looting of Our Nation by Mitigating Unethical State Kleptocracy (ELON MUSK) Act, a bill aimed at barring “special government employees” from receiving federal contracts. The legislation would target Elon Musk, who has secured over $20 billion in government contracts through SpaceX and Starlink while simultaneously holding an official advisory role in the Trump administration. Pocan argues that Musk’s dual position as a federal advisor and a major government contractor presents a clear conflict of interest, allowing him to direct taxpayer money toward his own companies. He said, “No government employee, ‘special’ or not, should have any financial interest in who the government does business with,” adding that Musk is “the poster child for this type of potential abuse.”
This all comes as Elon Musk has received praise from Trump administration officials and conservative lawmakers for his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he has been credited with uncovering and eliminating billions in government waste. According to DOGE, the agency has identified widespread inefficiencies in federal contracting, including the termination of 85 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)-related contracts across multiple federal agencies, amounting to $1 billion in savings as of January 29, 2025.
Additionally, 36 contracts were terminated across six agencies, including a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contract for “people and culture survey and climate support services,” totaling $165 million in savings. Another 22 consulting contracts were canceled, saving $45 million. Earlier this morning, 20 contracts related to “strategic communication” and “executive coaching” were eliminated, resulting in an immediate savings of $26 million.
