The Guardian: Musk could use the 'Department of Government Efficiency' for self-enrichment

[Dennis Donovan]

The Guardian - (archived: https://archive.ph/fESgB ) Musk could use the ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ for self-enrichment

He’s said $42.45bn spent by the US for rural internet isn’t efficient. His Starlink company stands to benefit if he reduces that investment

George Chidi
Sat 30 Nov 2024 07.00 EST



Elon Musk, named by Donald Trump to co-lead a commission aimed at reducing the size of the federal government, is poised to undermine funding for rural broadband services to benefit his satellite internet services company, Starlink.

Musk has long been a critic of the Biden administration’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (Bead) Program, which provides $42.45bn through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to expand high-speed internet access in rural communities. Starlink, the satellite internet services subsidiary of SpaceX, has largely been shut out of this funding after government agencies deemed it too slow to qualify.

But with Trump’s election, and the deference Trump appears poised to give to Musk’s desired reforms, the world’s richest man could re-prioritize how the federal government provides high-speed internet to rural America, creating an immense conflict of interest. If Musk recommends cuts to government spending on rural fiber optic broadband – as he has repeatedly suggested – it directly increases the value of Starlink’s satellite internet services.

“We have never had a situation where the leading shareholder of a communications company has both a position – both in terms of influencing the president, but also having an assignment to drive efficiency in government – with so many government contracts,” said Blair Levin, a telecommunications industry analyst with New Street Research and the Brookings Institution. “That is an extraordinary situation. That is unprecedented.”

Levin suggested that Trump could order Bead funding to be withheld indefinitely as soon as he takes office, even though Congress has authorized the funding.

Doing so would violate the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, a law Trump fell afoul of in his first term that ultimately resulted in one impeachment. But Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who will co-lead the commission to reduce the size of the federal government, argued in a Wall Street Journal editorial last week that Trump should pursue impoundment when he deems it necessary.

/snip

I benefitted from the Affordable Connectivity Program until it was ended back in June.

[Think. Again.]

1. Why else would he want to bother doing that job?

[Ocelot II]

2. Could, and will.

[mwmisses4289]

3. gop has always seemed

to see the federal government as their own private piggy bank.

[RainCaster]

4. Oh no. He would never do that.

What's that old saying? "Absolute power corrupts absolutely". Of course it applies here, but the Faux News watching Bubba's brains cannot make that connection. To them, the man who invented the World's Ugliest Truck is a genius and corruption can't be a part of that.

[2naSalit]

5. Ya think?

Like he had any other intent.

[Fish700]

6. LOL yeah, My god, has Leon thought of this?

[tonkatoy8888]

7. The Hell You Say