Elon Musk – His Unchecked Power: How He Became America’s Most Influential Bureaucrat

Elon Musk: How He Became America’s Most Influential Bureaucrat: Image/Pixabay

The Rise of Musk as a Political Power Player

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is no longer just the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter)—he is now one of the most powerful figures in Washington, D.C.. Thanks to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, Musk has been given sweeping authority over federal hiring, workforce reductions, and government restructuring.

This move has sparked serious concerns among lawmakers, legal experts, and government watchdogs, with some describing Musk as “America’s most powerful bureaucrat”—an unelected official with more control than many Cabinet members.

According to CNN, Musk’s power grab has led to dozens of lawsuits and raised fears of a constitutional crisis, as he now has influence over the hiring and firing of federal employees, budget cuts, and government efficiency programs.

The question remains: How did Musk gain so much power, and what does it mean for the future of the U.S. government?

Trump’s Executive Order: How Musk Took Control

The controversy began when Trump signed an executive order installing Musk as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The order gives Musk authority to:

✅ Block federal agencies from hiring new employees unless they receive DOGE approval.
✅ Impose mass layoffs, limiting hiring to one new employee for every four that leave.
✅ Assign DOGE “Team Leads” to all agencies, ensuring compliance with Musk’s efficiency policies.
✅ Override budget allocations, allowing DOGE to cut funding for government programs.

BBC News reported that the move has already led to major layoffs in agencies like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)—many of which have historically faced Republican criticism.

At the Oval Office signing ceremony, Musk dismissed concerns about his growing influence, saying:

“The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what they’re going to get.”

However, AP News pointed out that Musk misrepresented the 2024 election results, claiming “a majority of Americans voted for Trump,” when in reality, Trump won a plurality, not a majority.

Congress Reacts: “The Co-President of the United States”

Musk’s unprecedented power has drawn sharp reactions from Congress, with some Republican allies supporting him, while Democrats sound the alarm.

According to The Washington Post, Senator Elizabeth Warren warned that Musk’s unchecked influence poses a serious threat to democracy, stating:

“He has more power than any Cabinet official, without Senate confirmation. This is not how democracy works.”

Meanwhile, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a close Trump ally, defended Musk, calling him “the only one with the guts to drain the swamp.”

Reuters reported that some Republican lawmakers are privately uneasy about Musk’s role, especially since his power over federal budgets and hiring decisions could impact their home states. However, publicly, most GOP members have remained silent, fearing backlash from the Trump-Musk political alliance.

Legal Challenges: Can Courts Stop Musk?

Several watchdog groups, including Public Citizen and the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, arguing that Musk’s new role violates federal hiring laws and transparency rules.

AP News noted that one lawsuit, filed in California, claims that Musk’s DOGE communications are being classified as “presidential records,” shielding them from public scrutiny until at least 2034. Critics argue that Musk should be subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, given his direct influence over federal agencies.

Legal expert Donald Sherman, from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), told CNN:

“Musk has been given more power than any other unelected official in history. There is no precedent for a billionaire CEO controlling the federal government like this.”

While lawsuits continue, some federal judges have already intervened. According to The Guardian, courts have blocked DOGE from seizing control of certain government functions, including foreign aid programs run by USAID, after Musk’s team attempted to halt funding based on a misinformation campaign claiming USAID was sending money to Hamas—a claim that has been proven false.

Conflicts of Interest: Musk’s Government Contracts Under Scrutiny

As Musk gains unprecedented government influence, concerns are growing over conflicts of interest between his business empire and federal agencies.

✅ SpaceX: Receives billions in federal contracts for NASA and military projects.
✅ Tesla: Benefits from government subsidies for electric vehicles.
✅ Starlink: Has exclusive contracts to provide internet services to the military.
✅ X (formerly Twitter): Now one of the most politically influential platforms under Musk’s leadership.

Politico reported that ethics experts are questioning whether Musk will recuse himself from decisions affecting his own companies. However, the White House announced that Musk will “self-regulate” his conflicts of interest—a move that has been widely criticized.

The Washington Post quoted Senator Ron Wyden, who warned:

“This is an egregious abuse of power. No one should be allowed to oversee government policy while personally profiting from it.”

Meanwhile, Tesla stock has surged 8% since Musk’s appointment as head of DOGE, raising suspicions that investors see his influence as a financial advantage.

Conclusion: Is Musk Too Powerful?

Elon Musk has gone from being a tech entrepreneur to one of the most powerful figures in Washington—without ever being elected.

✅ He now controls hiring, firing, and budget cuts across federal agencies.
✅ Congress is deeply divided, with some calling for investigations and others praising him as a reformer.
✅ Lawsuits are piling up, challenging the legality of Musk’s government takeover.
✅ His businesses could directly benefit, raising serious ethical concerns.

As lawsuits and congressional battles intensify, the key question remains: Will Musk reshape the U.S. government in his image, or will legal and political challenges put a stop to his growing power?

One thing is certain: Elon Musk’s influence in Washington is just beginning.

What Do You Think?

Is Musk revolutionizing government efficiency, or is he a billionaire with too much unchecked power? Let us know in the comments!