Elon Musk Says Government Role Hurts His Companies Amid Conflict of Interest Concerns

Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), said his involvement in the federal government is actually negatively affecting his businesses, not benefiting them. Speaking with Fox News anchor Bret Baier, Musk emphasized the intense scrutiny he faces and denied claims of leveraging his government role for business gain.

"It’s Disadvantageous," Musk Tells Fox News

“Everything I do is under extreme scrutiny,” Musk told Baier. “There’s not an action I can take that doesn’t get scrutiny… Every action that the DOGE team does is publicly put on the website. It’s the most amount of transparency there’s been about any government thing ever.”

Addressing potential conflicts of interest tied to government contracts awarded to companies like Tesla and SpaceX, Musk insisted that his position restricts him from lobbying or securing benefits for his companies.

“If I wasn’t in the government, I could lobby and push for things that are advantageous to my companies and probably receive them. My companies are suffering because I’m in the government,” he stated.

White House Responds to Conflict of Interest Allegations

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously told NBC News that Musk has already agreed to avoid conflicts and comply with all legal obligations. “Elon himself has committed to recusing himself from potential conflicts. DOGE has been incredibly transparent about what they’re doing, posting daily updates on X and updating their website,” she said.

President Donald Trump has also assured the public that no conflicts of interest would be tolerated from appointees.

Transparency and Criticism of DOGE's Role

The Department of Government Efficiency, which aims to reduce waste, fraud, and unnecessary spending in federal agencies, has faced intense public scrutiny. Critics argue that the department has excessive power, particularly in cancelling contracts and reducing agency funding.

Despite these criticisms, Musk and the administration maintain that DOGE operates with an unprecedented level of transparency, releasing daily updates and publishing actions on its official platform.

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