While concerns are swirling about Elon Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration, the first potential conflict of interest has emerged.
Musk’s Office for Government Performance Management (which he runs with Vivek Ramaswamy) make a call Thursday is for “small government revolutionaries with super high IQs willing to work 80+ hours per week to cut costs absurdly.” As tempting as that job sounds (oh, apparently it’s also unpaid), the potential conflict appears in the instructions on how to apply.
Potential candidates are being instructed to submit their resumes to the above DOGE account X via direct message. However, according to Musk’s changes to that platform, only paid subscribers can send DMs to DOGE accounts. These cost between $8 and $16 per month.
In other words: To be considered for a role in the department (and the site says only the top 1% of resumes will be considered by Musk and Ramaswamy), candidates will have to make a financial contribution to one of Musk’s businesses.
Of course, that’s just the potential tip of the iceberg. For example, Musk also operates SpaceXhas a contract with the federal government.
While Musk has said “all actions of the Bureau of Government Effectiveness will be posted online Maximum transparencyIt is unclear whether these two leaders must disclose their finances or not. And the possibility of one or both eliminating government regulations that affect their businesses worries ethicists.
“If Musk and Ramaswamy are in a position where they can influence government decisions, and if some of those decisions could affect their businesses, then there could be a risk of a conflict of interest. illegal benefits,” said Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsible Ethics told ABC News. “Other laws and regulations may also apply today depending on what they do and how this ‘Ministry’ operates.”
Representatives for X and Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
