US President Donald Trump has given billionaire Elon Musk oversight of hiring decisions across every government agency, sparking concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Musk’s companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, have received billions of dollars in government contracts, and his social media platform X has accused various agencies of wrongdoing.
Despite the power granted to him, Musk continues to post misleading claims on X, claiming that USAID planned to allot $50 million for condoms in Gaza before it was stopped. His companies stand to benefit from weakened regulations, particularly with regards to digital payment systems like X Money.
There is no direct evidence that Musk has directed firings of officials or issued halt-work orders at government agencies, but experts say his businesses are still benefiting from these changes. The White House has not seen the conflict of interest law that would apply to Musk, and it remains unclear how he will ensure transparency in his financial disclosures.
The lack of guardrails for Musk’s power raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the impact on government agencies and the public.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/elon-musks-influence-in-the-white-house-grows-as-trump-hands-him-more-power