Statements from involved parties or official announcements

Elizabeth Warren Urges Trump to Set Conflict-of-Interest Rules for Elon Musk in DOGE Role

Dec 17, 2024, 06:15 PM

Senator Elizabeth Warren has requested that President-elect Donald Trump establish conflict-of-interest rules for Elon Musk, who is set to serve as a top adviser in the incoming administration. Warren's letter to Trump, made public on Tuesday, expresses concerns about Musk's significant private interests potentially conflicting with his role as an 'unofficial co-president.' Musk, the world's richest man, has been appointed to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new advisory body aimed at reducing government waste, alongside Vivek Ramaswamy. Warren argues that without clear ethics standards, Musk's involvement could lead to corruption, particularly given his companies' interests in government contracts and regulations. In response, Trump's transition team, through spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, dismissed Warren's concerns, referring to her with Trump's nickname 'Pocahontas' and asserting that the transition team adheres to high ethical standards.