America for Sale: How Trump and Musk are Hollowing Out Oversight and Seizing Power
Inside the Unprecedented Power Grab Undermining America’s Democratic Foundations
THE MUSK-TRUMP TAKEOVER: A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY, SECURITY, AND TRANSPARENCY
Elon Musk and Donald Trump are running a government-wide smash-and-grab, hollowing out oversight, dismantling regulatory agencies, and lining their own pockets—all under the guise of “efficiency.” With Musk at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), we are witnessing a wholesale assault on transparency, accountability, and national security.
From a fake transparency website to direct interference in federal payment systems, from shutting down financial regulators to controlling the fate of agencies investigating his own companies, Musk is not just influencing the government—he IS the government. Let’s break it all down.
THE STUNNING LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
DOGE’s Lies and Misinformation
Musk claims DOGE is “transparent,” yet:
He spread outright lies about U.S. aid sending $50 million worth of condoms to Gaza—a hoax amplified by right-wing media and used as justification for budget cuts.1
He falsely claimed FEMA misused $59 million on migrant housing, leading to the firing of multiple officials based on misinformation.2
He attacked USAID with baseless fraud allegations while his own team gained access to and manipulated the agency’s data.
Where is the “Waste Tracking?”
Musk promised the public a tool to track government inefficiencies through Waste.gov.3
Reality check: The site is a blank WordPress template with placeholder text about an imaginary architecture firm.
So much for “transparency.”
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST FOR DAYS
The Business Empire That Keeps Expanding
Since Trump’s return, Musk’s businesses have gained a stranglehold on federal contracts, with 11 agencies stalling or killing investigations into his companies.
DOGE’s influence has redirected billions in government funds to Musk’s ventures, with no oversight.4
Government Money Flowing Straight to Musk’s Pockets
$400 million in State Department funds is earmarked for “armored” Tesla vehicles—while Musk personally oversees federal spending.5
A Pentagon investigation into Musk’s undisclosed meetings with foreign leaders was quietly shut down after Trump fired key oversight officials.6
THE SYSTEMATIC DESTRUCTION OF CONSUMER PROTECTIONS
Dismantling the CFPB to Benefit Big Tech
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has been frozen, its director fired, and all investigations halted7—just as Musk’s company X rolls out its digital wallet.8
The removal of financial oversight benefits Big Tech and Wall Street while leaving consumers vulnerable to predatory fees and fraud.9
ASSAULT ON SCIENCE, MEDICAL RESEARCH, AND REGULATION
Slashing Critical Research to Cut Costs
NIH funding has been gutted by DOGE, impacting 2,500 research institutions and crippling efforts to fight cancer, heart disease, and dementia.
The cuts are not about fiscal responsibility; they are ideological attacks on science and medicine.10
NATIONAL SECURITY NIGHTMARE: DOGE HACKING AMERICA
Unauthorized Access to Treasury Payment Systems
A U.S. Treasury threat intelligence analysis labeled DOGE an “insider threat” after Musk’s team gained unauthorized access to federal financial data.11
DOGE staff directly interfered with USAID payments, contradicting White House claims that they had no involvement.12
Manipulating Federal Finances
A DOGE-affiliated technologist was granted full “write access” to federal payment systems handling $5.45 trillion annually—raising the risk of financial tampering.
Treasury initially denied this access existed, until documents revealed the truth.13
MUSK CONTROLS HIS OWN REGULATORS
FAA Safety Protections are Disappearing14
Musk now oversees the very FAA office that regulates SpaceX, after FAA Chief Mike Whitaker resigned on Inauguration Day.
SpaceX’s Starship recently exploded, scattering debris over the Caribbean, yet Musk dismissed it as “barely a bump in the road.”
Musk’s push to weaken spaceflight safety regulations is an unprecedented conflict of interest that could endanger lives.
USAID GUTTED: $500 MILLION IN FOOD AID AT RISK
Nearly $500 million in humanitarian food aid is at risk of spoilage after DOGE’s cuts left USAID unable to distribute supplies.
Critical counter-terrorism vetting was shut down, increasing the likelihood of funds being misused.
Musk, who claims to care about “waste,” has instead destroyed a vital program that feeds the world’s most vulnerable.15
Fight Back Against the Musk-Trump Power Grab
What we’re witnessing isn’t just corruption—it’s a coordinated, systemic takeover of our democracy by a billionaire with unchecked power and a president who enables him. Musk and Trump are dismantling oversight, controlling regulatory agencies, and rewriting the rules to serve corporate interests instead of the American people. This isn’t efficiency—it’s authoritarianism wrapped in a tech-bro PR stunt.
🚨 Here’s what YOU can do to fight back: 🚨
📞 Call Your Elected Officials
Demand they investigate Musk’s unchecked power, restore consumer protections, and block DOGE’s reckless policies. Congress must act NOW to protect our financial systems, scientific institutions, and national security. Find your representative here: www.house.gov/representatives
✊ Protest & Mobilize
Show up at town halls, rallies, and public hearings to voice opposition to Musk’s influence over the government. Join or support grassroots organizations fighting against corporate overreach.
📢 Spread the Word
Share this article, talk to your friends, and flood social media with the truth. Use platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit to push back against misinformation.
🗞️ Stay Informed
Follow credible investigative journalists and independent media exposing Musk and Trump’s authoritarian playbook. Sign up for newsletters from watchdog groups like ProPublica, OpenSecrets, and The Center for Public Integrity.
💡 Support Whistleblowers –
Government employees who expose wrongdoing need legal protections. Demand Congress strengthen whistleblower laws so those inside the system can speak out without fear of retaliation.
🔥 This is a fight for our democracy. The longer we stay silent, the deeper Musk and Trump’s grip on power becomes. Call, protest, share, and stay informed. The future of our country depends on it.
🔗 Share this NOW and take action today!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/11/elon-musk-trump-doge?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1739345954
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https://www.wired.com/story/treasury-bfs-doge-insider-threat/
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https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/02/11/doge-cyberattack-united-states-treasury/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/10/usaid-trump-elon-musk-cuts