House Democrats Launch Probe into Elon Musk's 'Conflict of Interest'

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Source: Newsweek

Published May 05, 2025 at 11:10 AM EDT


Elon Musk is the target of new conflict of interest questions from Democratic members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Specifically, they asked key figures in the Trump administration whether Musk, who currently heads up the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), had any "conflicts of interest" or "liabilities" including ties to hostile foreign powers. They also asked about "illegal drug" use and government contracts.

The Democrats have written letters to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles requesting information about Musk. Newsweek contacted Musk for comment via the Tesla and SpaceX press offices on Monday by email outside of regular office hours.

Why It Matters

Following his second presidential inauguration on January 20, Trump appointed Tech billionaire Musk, a close political ally during the 2024 presidential election, to head up DOGE. The advisory department was tasked with slashing what its founders regarded as wasted government spending and oversaw a substantial reduction in the federal headcount, though this was later partially overturned by the courts. The fresh letters demonstrate a Democratic desire to keep both Musk and Trump under pressure amidst ongoing controversy about the Tesla and SpaceX CEO's influence within the administration.

What To Know

A press release, published by Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on May 1, said they had written to Hegseth, Wiles, Gabbard and Patel "demanding information about Elon Musk's ties to foreign governments like China and Russia, Musk's growing treasure chest of government contracts awarded to his companies, the history of his drug use, and potential liabilities that would make him vulnerable to coercion and corruption." Hegseth, Wiles, Gabbard and Patel were all asked to provide any relevant documents to the committee members by May 15, 2025, at the latest.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/house-democrats-launch-probe-elon-musks-conflict-interest-2068031