.jpg)
Feb. 3, 2025 Editor, The News-Gazette In recent years, a major complaint by many conservatives, including the authors of Project 2025, has been that government policy decisions are being made by civil servants who have not been elected to their positions.
Elon Musk’s name was not on any ballots in the most recent election. Nor were the names of any of the several people from his various companies that he has installed in positions in government offices. Musk was given access to the computer system in the Department of Treasury that controls all of the monies dispersed by the government. This access was approved by Scott Bessent, the new secretary of treasury, over the protest of David Lebryk who was in charge of the system, leading to his resignation. Musk and his team reportedly used thumb drives to download information which would include the names and Social security numbers of anyone who has ever received a check from the government. Access to this system also gives Musk the ability to change, direct, or stop any payment from the government, including those that would go directly to his companies through his government contracts.
Let’s be clear. Musk has made $15.4 billion in government contracts for Space X and at least $352,000 in contracts for Tesla. The annual financial report for Tesla, released on Jan. 30, shows that Tesla made $2.3 billion in 2024 and paid zero in federal taxes.
Musk’s employees have also taken over the Office of Personnel Management and their computer system, while locking out of the system the regular employees of the office. Musk’s team has reportedly accessed areas in the office with classified information, even though none of his employees have clearances. This man is dangerous.
It is unlikely that we can rely on the usual guardrails of misconduct and fraud for the federal government. Donald Trump has fired the inspectors general for all the major cabinet departments. The Justice Department and FBI have dropped current fraud investigations against a current and a former Republican member of Congress, sending a clear signal to loyal Republicans that fraud, misconduct, or law breaking are now allowed and won’t be prosecuted. PATTY HIGGINS Lexington
