On Tuesday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s office released a report detailing Elon Musk’s involvement in President Donald Trump’s administration, specifically highlighting a reported “130 days” in which the billionaire allegedly leveraged his government position to benefit his businesses.
The report claims that “Musk and individuals acting on his behalf have been involved in dozens of questionable actions that raise questions about corruption, ethics and conflicts of interest,” according to the analysis conducted by the Massachusetts Democrat’s team.
This 14-page document lists over 100 instances in which Musk is accused of abusing his role as a “special government employee” for personal gain. The report asserts that Musk has violated ethical norms “at an astonishing pace” and describes his conduct as “scandalous behavior” irrespective of potential criminal implications.
The White House has not yet responded to Finance Newso’s request for comments regarding the report. In addition, requests for statements were made to Musk, Alex Spiro, a partner at Quinn Emanuel, and Omead Afshar, a vice president at Tesla, but no responses were received as of press time.
Musk recently concluded his stint leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role focused on reducing federal government expenditures. His four-month tenure was marked by significant disruptions within the federal workforce and various governmental agencies.
Warren’s office alleges that Musk exploited federal resources to advance his business interests. As the world’s wealthiest individual and CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and artificial intelligence firm xAI, Musk’s actions have come under scrutiny. For example, the report points to an incident when the White House lawn was temporarily used as a showroom for Tesla vehicles.
Moreover, the report cites over two dozen occasions where the Trump administration or other government entities initiated or considered lucrative contracts with Musk’s businesses, such as Customs and Border Protection evaluating the use of Starlink technology for surveillance purposes.
Additionally, it describes six instances in which the Trump administration stalled enforcement actions against Musk’s companies, including a case where the Occupational Safety and Health Administration terminated an investigation into Tesla regarding allegations of workplace safety violations.
According to the report, Musk’s companies either have received or are under consideration for substantial contracts from both federal and foreign governments, along with private sector firms.
This is not the first instance where Musk has faced criticism over potential conflicts of interest during his time with DOGE. Three Democratic senators, including Warren, sent a letter last week to the Justice Department and other relevant authorities, urging an investigation into whether DOGE employees breached conflict-of-interest laws by holding shares in companies that may have gained from their governmental initiatives.
Finance Newso’s Lora Kolodny contributed reporting.
