Demand Progress

Elon Musk used his immense wealth to help elect Donald Trump, and he’s won himself a position as the head of the proposed “Department of Government Efficiency.” At the same time, he’s CEO of a private space company (SpaceX) that’s gained a dangerous amount of power as a U.S. defense contractor.¹

With Musk having a role in the Trump admin, he would be overseeing the agencies who are in charge of regulating his own companies and doling out billions of dollars of federal contracts.²

Musk having a role in government would be a staggering, dangerous conflict of interest. Before Trump takes power, the Biden administration must cut off Elon Musk’s billions in federal defense contracts.

Sign the petition: Tell President Biden to end federal defense contracts with Elon Musk’s companies!

Since 2020, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has secured 22 space missions from the Pentagon worth $2.5 billion.³ Musk’s company is currently competing with other corporate giants for even more defense contracts.

Now, under Trump, Musk plans to cut government spending while in charge of “reducing government waste and needless regulation.”⁴

Our taxpayer dollars shouldn’t be helping to enrich a man readying to entangle himself in massive conflicts of interest. End Musk’s defense contracts now!

Sources:

1. Quartz, “Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos might be entrusted with America's national security space missions,” June 14, 2024.
2. New York Times, “U.S. Agencies Fund, and Fight With, Elon Musk. A Trump Presidency Could Give Him Power Over Them.” October 20, 2024.
3. Quartz, “Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos might be entrusted with America's national security space missions,” June 14, 2024.
4. NBC News, “ Elon Musk asks voters to brace for economic 'hardship,' deep spending cuts in potential Trump Cabinet role,” October 30, 2024.