Musk could use senior position to garner deals for SpaceX: Reports
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According to a report by The New York Times, current and former officials worry that Musk’s proximity to power may give his company an unfair advantage.
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Elon Musk attends the finals for the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Elon Musk's expanding influence in US government circles is drawing scrutiny as SpaceX, the space exploration firm he founded, pursues lucrative federal contracts. According to a report by The New York Times, current and former officials worry that Musk's proximity to power may give his company an unfair advantage.
SpaceX has reportedly taken steps to secure new support from federal agencies, including submitting multiple requests to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for expanded launch capabilities. These include proposals to build additional rocket launch sites and to increase launch frequency from government-owned spaceports in Florida and California. The FAA is said to be moving toward approving a request that would double Falcon 9 rocket launches from Florida to 120 annually.
Musk's involvement in federal policymaking has led some media outlets to refer to him as a "shadow president.” He currently holds a key advisory position in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a consultative body aimed at reforming federal operations and reducing waste.
Critics argue that Musk's growing ties to the White House—particularly under President Donald Trump—could tilt the playing field in SpaceX's favor. Some of Trump's allies and appointees now hold key government roles, and several officials previously responsible for investigating ethics violations have been dismissed.
"We will never know if SpaceX would authentically win competitions for these awards because all of the offices in government intended to prevent corruption and conflicts of interest have been beheaded or defunded," said Danielle Brian, CEO of the Project on Government Oversight, a nonprofit watchdog organization focused on federal accountability.
Read more: Musk: Starship to launch for Mars by late 2026
Government contracting analysts have voiced concern that the intersection of Musk's political access and business ambitions could undermine public trust in the fairness of the procurement process. As SpaceX seeks more launches and broader access to federal infrastructure, calls are growing for stronger oversight to ensure decisions are made on merit—not connections.
