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Bezuinigingen DOGE roepen vragen op over belangenverstrengeling infographic
Graphic shows U.S. government agencies with which Musk has conflict of interest issues.
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Bezuinigingen DOGE roepen vragen op over belangenverstrengeling

By Phil Bainbridge

April 10, 2025 - Mass layoffs affecting at least 20,000 federal employees at departments directly affecting Elon Musk’s businesses and the resignation of the SEC lawyer handling a lawsuit against him have raised widespread concern over potential conflicts of interest.

Job cuts at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommended by Musk’s unofficial Department of Government Efficiency primarily targeted staff in the office of vehicle
automation safety. Musk has staked the future of Tesla on self-driving cars.

To the consternation of European air regulators, members of SpaceX - which was fined for safety violations in 2024 - are now advising the Federal Aviation Administration on safety procedures, after 400 employees of the agency were fired. FAA contracts worth $2.4 billion with Verizon, a competitor of Musk’s Starlink, are reportedly at risk after criticism by Musk, and the FAA has confirmed that it is now using Starlink for parts of the air traffic control system.

Most recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission lawyer handling a $150m lawsuit against Musk over his Twitter takeover resigned amid concerns that under a Trump-appointed chair the SEC would dismiss the case.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 10/04/2025; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Getty Images
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