Elon Musk and SpaceX possible conflicts

Elon Musk Left to Self-Regulate Conflicts of Interest at DOGE

It’s up to Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, to decide when to step aside if his work at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) conflicts with his private business interests.

Musk, the Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder, has been reviewing federal contracts and cutting government spending, targeting programs he believes fail to benefit the American public.

However, there’s a major issue: Musk’s companies are among the biggest government contractors, having secured an estimated $15.4 billion in federal contracts over the past decade.

Despite this, the White House insists that Musk will recuse himself when necessary.

At a Wednesday press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed concerns about potential conflicts of interest in the Trump administration’s oversight of DOGE.

“The President was asked about this and answered directly: If Elon Musk encounters a conflict of interest, he will remove himself from the discussion regarding contracts and funding overseen by DOGE," Leavitt stated.

“[Musk] has fully complied with all applicable laws.”

Musk’s Federal Ties Could Face Scrutiny

This pledge is likely to be tested, given the many ways Musk’s companies intersect with federal spending.

According to a New York Times report last year:

• Tesla received $350,000 in contracts from the Department of Energy and Department of Defense.
• SpaceX secured $15.4 billion in government contracts, including $11.8 billion from NASA.

Meanwhile, DOGE is conducting investigations into agencies ranging from USAID to the FAA, with read-only access to Treasury Department documents.

Concerns Over Conflicts of Interest

Leavitt’s response hasn’t satisfied some Capitol Hill lawmakers, who argue that Musk’s role lacks the oversight imposed on federal officials.

Although Musk is classified as a “special government employee”—subject to some constraints—the rules for government officials and politicians are far more stringent.

For example:

• Members of Congress are explicitly barred from personally benefiting from federal contracts.
• Federal employees are prohibited from awarding contracts to companies they own or control.

With Musk overseeing government spending while leading multiple companies reliant on federal contracts, critics warn that his self-regulation could create serious ethical concerns.