DOGE Head Spurs Potential Conflict of Interest Rumors… Again

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been busy spearheading a multi-million dollar communications project at the Federal Aviation Administration, the agency that regulates the same airspace Musk’s SpaceX flies through. Employees pulled into this project, charmingly named “Project Lift,” have claimed that they have been forced to sign non-disclosure agreements.

Musk’s influence over the FAA fits a broader pattern. After mass firings and loyalty purges, Musk’s DOGE team reportedly pushed Starlink, his satellite internet company, into the conversation to replace Verizon on a $2.4 billion FAA network upgrade contract. While Starlink has denied wanting the contract, FAA employees have allegedly been told to scrounge up tens of millions of dollars for Starlink deals anyway.

Watchdog groups are not amused. The Campaign Legal Center has asked the Department of Transportation’s inspector general to investigate whether Musk’s involvement violates conflict-of-interest laws. It turns out that directing government money toward companies you own while acting as a “special government employee” is, technically speaking, not allowed. Musk continues to assert that he’s following all the rules.

The FAA has confirmed the existence of Project Lift but insists that DOGE is not in charge — a claim many call laughable. Some say DOGE staffers who now work at the FAA are pulling the strings to prioritize Project Lift, and ensuring the few people who know about it are legally gagged. Meanwhile, Musk’s fingerprints seem to be all over the initiative, despite the administration’s best efforts to pretend otherwise.

Secrecy around Project Lift has sparked internal anxiety, particularly with FAA employees reportedly warned of possible criminal charges if they leak information, even though nothing about the project seems remotely classified. With Musk expected to formally exit his government role soon, few expect anything to change. His loyalists at the FAA are firmly in place, keeping Project Lift humming along.

FMI: www.spacex.com