Within Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he has headed since Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, the billionaire has enjoyed extensive powers over some of the administrations and agencies that regulate the activities of his companies, in a multifaceted conflict of interest.

Against all evidence, the White House has repeatedly asserted that the billionaire has "no direct role" in the DOGE and is merely a "senior adviser" to the US president. These assertions have been denied by Musk himself, who regularly posts messages on X, which he owns, instructing DOGE employees to examine certain issues, or announcing changes in the way the organization operates.

The president has also said that the richest man in the world "won't be involved" in matters that could place him in a position of conflict of interest, without ever answering questions about specific examples. And yet, these examples are already numerous.

Tesla in the crosshairs of DOGE-audited agencies

Like all carmakers, Musk's main company has close ties with the government, which in the past has provided it with substantial loans and subsidies. Today, however, the company is under multiple investigations by US regulators, who are themselves now subject to instructions from the DOGE, particularly at the budgetary level.

The Trump administration has already paralyzed the operations of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the agency responsible for ensuring that union rights are respected, by firing three of its board members, depriving it of the quorum needed to make decisions. The agency has been one of Musk's pet peeves for years. It opened several investigations against Musk-owned companies, notably for anti-union practices at Tesla and SpaceX.

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