Draft:ELON MUSK Act
The Eliminate Looting of Our Nation by Mitigating Unethical State Kleptocracy (ELON MUSK) Act is a proposed piece of federal legislation to be introduced in the United States House of Representatives, announced on February 5, 2025 by Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI).[1] The bill aims to prevent "special government employees" from securing federal contracts, citing potential conflicts of interest and ethical concerns. The legislation directly targets billionaire Elon Musk.[2][3]
Background
[edit]Billionaire Elon Musk was appointed by Donald Trump to head the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Concerns quickly arose over Musk's dual role as a government official and a business executive with extensive federal contracts. Critics argue that his influence over government spending presents a conflict of interest that could result in favoritism toward his enterprises.[2][3]
In response to these concerns, Rep. Mark Pocan introduced the ELON MUSK Act, stating "no government employee, ‘special’ or not, should have any financial interest in who the government does business with. Elon Musk is the poster child for this type of abuse. After more than $20 billion in federal contracts, there’s no way Musk can be objective in what he’s doing."[2][3]
The bill is seen as part of a broader Democratic push to counter the influence of wealthy individuals in government decision-making, particularly under the Trump administration.[2][3]
Provisions
[edit]The ELON MUSK Act proposes the following measures:[2][3]
- Prohibiting individuals classified as "special government employees" from engaging in federal contracts while serving in an official capacity.
- Strengthening existing conflict-of-interest laws to prevent high-ranking business executives from overseeing regulatory or financial decisions that impact their companies.
- Increasing transparency in federal contracting processes to ensure impartiality in awarding government contracts.
Legislative history
[edit]The bill was introduced to the House of Representatives on February 5, 2025. Its title is "Eliminate Looting of Our Nation by Mitigating Unethical State Kleptocracy" and its abbreviation is ELON MUSK. It follows a separate legislative effort introduced by House and Senate Democrats on February 4, 2025, aimed at restricting unlawful access to the U.S. Treasury Department's payment systems. This legislation arose after reports suggested Musk and his allies had gained access to sensitive financial data through his role in DOGE.[2][3][4]
- ^ "Pocan to Introduce ELON MUSK Act to Ban Federal Government Contracts for Special Government Employees, Similar To Bans For Members of Congress, Many Other Federal Employees". House.gov. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "The Elon Musk Act aims to ban 'special government employees' from having federal contracts". Techcrunch. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "New Democratic bill targets Elon Musk". Politico. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ "House Dem proposes bill named after Musk ending federal contracts for special government employees". The Hill. Retrieved 5 February 2025.