Musk’s Authority Raises Americans’ Concerns of a State within a State

5th February 2025

4 minutes read

Musk’s Authority Raises Americans' Concerns of a State within a State

Democrats, who had remained silent about the unprecedented power granted by the U.S. president to his wealthiest ally, are now beginning to push back against Musk‘s actions.

The unparalleled authority granted by U.S. President Donald Trump to his richest ally, Elon Musk, is raising increasing concerns as Musk implements major changes within the American government.

The South African-born billionaire has taken control of the U.S. Treasury Department’s payment system, which manages trillions of dollars. He has also unilaterally announced the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and played a role in the removal of senior officials.

Although he frequently criticizes unelected officials, the unelected CEO of Tesla and SpaceX faces little accountability while leading Trump‘s campaign to reduce the number of federal employees.

Trump downplayed the issue on Monday when asked about it in the Oval Office, saying, “Elon can’t do anything, and won’t do anything, without our approval.”

He added, “We will give him approval when appropriate, and when it’s not, we won’t. But he informs us” of everything, emphasizing his enthusiasm for the situation and his admiration for Musk’s actions.

Musk’s authority appears nearly limitless, prompting Democrats to accuse him of an unconstitutional power grab.

So far, the billionaire has not been registered as either a federal employee or a government official, although U.S. media reported Monday that he is now classified as a “special government employee.”

Opponents highlight that Musk was the largest donor to Trump’s successful election campaign, contributing up to a quarter of a billion dollars, and that his companies hold massive contracts with the U.S. government.

Initially, a cartoon dog was displayed on the website of Musk’s new “Government Efficiency Administration,” but it was later replaced by a dollar sign enclosed in a golden ring, reflecting the entity’s new focus.

A cartoon image of a dog originally featured on the website of Musk’s newly established Government Efficiency Administration. This was later replaced with an emblem of a dollar sign encircled by a golden ring, symbolizing the entity’s priorities.

A team of young executives, selected from Musk’s private companies, has taken control of the Treasury Department’s payment system and now occupies key government positions.

These employees have actively encouraged federal workers to accept severance packages and leave their positions, sending emails reminiscent of those Musk used to lay off Twitter employees after acquiring the platform and renaming it X.

Musk personally announced the shutdown of USAID in a live discussion on X, calling the agency a “criminal organization.” This move, along with the complete absence of restrictions on his actions and those of his aides, has shocked many.

Serious tensions arose when Musk’s team demanded access to a secure room within USAID that contained classified information.

A similar incident occurred when a Treasury official was placed on administrative leave after refusing to grant Musk’s representatives access to such data.

On Trump’s inauguration day, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) resigned after Musk criticized the agency’s oversight of rocket launches. Just days later, a fatal plane crash in Washington forced Trump to hastily appoint a new director.

The controversy escalated when Musk appeared to give a Nazi-style salute during Trump’s inauguration ceremony. On Monday, Trump attempted to defuse the situation, stating, “If there’s ever a conflict, we won’t let him get anywhere near it.” However, this reassurance failed to quell his critics.

Having remained largely silent during Trump’s first two weeks in office, Democrats are now beginning to push back against Musk’s initiatives.

Senator Elizabeth Warren stated, “No one elected Musk.” The House Ways and Means Committee is convening an emergency meeting, partially to address this issue.

Democrats argue that the Government Efficiency Administration represents an unconstitutional attempt to wield presidential powers over funds allocated by Congress.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer likened the situation to “letting a tiger into a petting zoo and hoping for the best.”

At a protest by USAID employees, Senator Chris Van Hollen declared, “Musk’s attempt to take over… will not stand.”

Meanwhile, Washington is closely watching how events unfold, awaiting a potential end to the honeymoon between these two high-profile and ego-driven figures—Trump and Musk.

Reports indicate that Musk does not operate from the same building as other government officials. He was denied an office in the White House’s West Wing and has instead been relocated to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, a separate structure within the presidential complex.