On December 5, 2024, in Washington, US, Elon Musk strolls along Capitol Hill before meeting with Senate Republican Leader-elect John Thune. Several legal experts and lawmakers who disagree with the billionaire’s goal of combatting unnecessary government expenditure believe that Elon Musk is pushing the boundaries of ethical and legal constraints on the function of special advisers in US presidential administrations. Here are some of the legal issues raised by Musk’s actions as he tries to reduce the size of the federal government.
According to the White House, Musk is a special federal employee, which means he is not compensated and is only permitted to work 130 days or less annually. Some, but not all, of the ethics and conflict-of-interest regulations that apply to government employees apply to him.
Whether Musk needs to be confirmed as a cabinet official by the U.S. Senate is a matter of debate among legal experts due to his expanding involvement in government. Generally speaking, Senate confirmation is required for officials who report directly to the president and have significant discretion over important choices.
The White House typically self-polices ethics and conflict-of-interest regulations for special federal workers. Trump told reporters Monday that the billionaire needed to have White House approval for his conduct.
Also Read:
Dr. Roger Achkar: A World-Renowned Leader in the Energy Sector and Environmental Conservation
About Author
