Democrats Plan to Investigate Musk's DOGE Role and Government Business Ties

Democrats are preparing to investigate Elon Musk's role in the Trump administration and the activities of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), including its access to sensitive government information and the business interests of Musk's companies.

Elon Musk faces potential congressional scrutiny over his former role in the Department of Government Efficiency and his companies' federal business interests.

The investigations could also examine whether Musk used his government influence to benefit his private businesses, Sasha Rogelberg reported for Fortune.

“We definitely have a lot of questions about Elon Musk's role in DOGE and it is something we plan to investigate,” Sara Guerrero, a spokesperson for House Oversight Committee Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia of California, said last month.

Musk's involvement in the federal government has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and watchdog groups, particularly over DOGE's access to government data and its efforts to reduce federal spending.

In October, a federal judge ruled that the Office of Personnel Management had violated the Privacy Act by sharing sensitive personal information with DOGE personnel.

The ruling raised questions about the legality of the access and the safeguards used to protect information belonging to federal employees, retirees and job applicants.

Casey Michel, author of United States of Oligarchy: How America's Wealthiest Ally with Dictators, Weaken the U.S., and Destroy Democracy, told Fortune that DOGE's influence created opportunities for private-sector interests to benefit from government connections.

A Washington Post investigation published in October found that approximately two dozen former DOGE staff members had used their government experience to obtain private-sector positions, invest in startups or establish businesses.

The companies involved had raised more than $500 million in venture capital and other funding, according to the report.

Separately, estimates from the Democracy Defenders Fund indicated that Musk's companies had received at least $10 billion in additional government contracts since his departure from DOGE in May 2025.

The figures and allegations are likely to become part of broader congressional scrutiny of the relationship between government officials, private companies and federal contracting.