Senator Elizabeth Warren introduced a bill to tighten ethics standards for special government employees (SGEs), including Elon Musk. The bill mandates stricter conflict-of-interest and disclosure rules for SGEs, applying standard ethics rules starting from the 61st day of their government service. It requires the Office of Government Ethics to approve any conflict-of-interest waivers and makes these waivers public. The bill also allows public access to certain SGE financial disclosures and mandates the Office of Personnel Management to maintain a list of designated SGEs.
The legislation is prompted by Musk's advisory role to President Trump and the receipt of billions in government contracts and subsidies by his companies. While Musk claims that the scrutiny surrounding his role prevents him from influencing the government, Democratic officials have criticized his actions, including his involvement in dismantling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The bill has several co-sponsors and a similar bill was introduced in the House. However, its passage through a Republican-controlled Congress and potential presidential veto remain significant challenges. The White House has yet to respond publicly to earlier concerns regarding Musk's continued government service beyond the 130-day limit for SGEs.