Oversight Democrats Escalate Investigation into Elon Musk’s Conflicts of Interest and Demand Mr. Musk’s Financial Disclosure
Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2025)— Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, led Oversight Democrats in sending a letter to White House Counsel David Warrington requesting documents and information regarding Elon Musk’s conflicts of interest, including his financial disclosure. Yesterday, the Committee released 100 conflicts of interest on President Trump’s 100th day in office, with Mr. Musk appearing prominently on the list. Last month, Committee Democrats launched investigations into Musk’s glaring conflicts of interest and federal contracts at the White House, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Trump Administration has stonewalled the Committee’s efforts to investigate Mr. Musk’s conflicts of interest and broader patterns of corruption across the Administration.
“We write regarding the scope of duties Elon Musk is undertaking as a special government employee (SGE) and the deeply alarming conflicts of interest presented by his expansive position. In an unprecedented arrangement, President Donald Trump has bestowed expansive and unlawful authority to Mr. Musk, an unelected billionaire. Mr. Musk is redirecting billions of taxpayer dollars to fund his own financial interests while slashing federal employees, programs, and services on which all Americans depend. Mr. Musk also remains in charge of a sprawling private-sector business empire that continues to rely on billions of dollars in government funding and has been charged with managing his own conflicts of interest. The Trump Administration has failed to make public Mr. Musk’s financial disclosure filings, hiding the true extent of his conflicts from the public,” wrote the Members.
In their letter, the Members highlight that federal employees may not participate in government matters in which they have a financial interest, noting an exception of this provision if the employee has made a full disclosure of the financial interest and received—in advance—a determination that the interest is either remote or insubstantial enough that it would be unlikely to affect the integrity of the employee’s work.
However, Mr. Musk has substantial financial interests such as federal contracts in the aerospace, telecommunications, automotive, and biotechnology industries worth billions of dollars.
“In recognition of Mr. Musk’s elevated role in your Administration, we request that he immediately complete a public financial disclosure, as is generally required for employees occupying positions equivalent to those of a member of the Senior Executive Service. This disclosure will provide important transparency to the American people about the interests of a government employee with enormous influence over the use of their tax dollars,” concluded the Members.
On March 4, 2025, after repeated stonewalling by the Administration and disinterest by Committee Republicans, Ranking Member Connolly led Committee Democrats in introducing a Resolution of Inquiry to investigate Elon Musk’s extensive conflicts of interest and entrenched corruption within the Trump Administration.
Click here to read the letter to White House Counsel David Warrington.