With the backing of President Donald Trump, Elon Musk has embarked on an unconstitutional rampage against the federal government. The world’s wealthiest man is trying to shut down key agencies and programs that protect the health, welfare, and prosperity of millions of Americans. He has pushed mass layoffs, silenced federal agencies, and accessed massive amounts of confidential government data.
Of course, Musk has significant personal interests on the table. His two major companies, SpaceX and Tesla, have both benefited heavily from U.S. government funding and policies. And through his ties to Trump, Musk’s wealth has ballooned dramatically. According to Bloomberg, his net worth increased by $200 billion in just the last year alone, due in significant part to market expectations that his companies will earn vastly more money during the Trump presidency.
If Musk’s government contracts and policies were credibly threatened, his recent paper gains would shrink or vanish.
But with all of this government-generated wealth comes a significant vulnerability. If Musk’s government contracts and policies were credibly threatened, his recent paper gains would shrink or vanish. Musk, of course, would remain incredibly wealthy and powerful. But if his actions in Washington are materially hurting his companies, pressure from shareholders and his own bottom line might force him to limit his slash-and-burn campaign against the federal government. And just as importantly, a campaign targeting Musk would breathe life into the Democratic Party at a time when it is flailing.
How can all of this be accomplished? The first step is for members of Congress to take a strong public stand against any government contracts awarded to Musk’s companies. From there, elected officials should begin turning their stated opposition into actual votes. The most powerful tool for this is in the hands of the U.S. Senate: the filibuster. Forty-one U.S. senators could use the filibuster to block most legislation that enables the funding of Musk’s companies. With 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and two independents in the Senate, such a push is numerically possible, though politically difficult.
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