Elon Musk's DOGE Job Applications Require X Premium Subscription

The job application process for Elon Musk‘s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has come under scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest.

What Happened: The Department of Government Efficiency, to be led by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is on the hunt for “super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries.” The application process, however, has raised some eyebrows.

To apply, candidates must send their resumes to the DOGE account on Musk’s platform, X, via direct message.

The twist is that only premium subscribers of X, which costs $8 to $16 per month, can send DMs to the DOGE account. This implies that to be considered for a position, applicants must financially support one of Musk’s ventures, reports Fortune.

Musk has promised that all Department activities will be published online for utmost transparency, but it is still uncertain whether the leaders will be required to file financial disclosures.

"If Musk and Ramaswamy are in a position where they can influence governmental decisions and if some of those decisions could impact their businesses, then there could be a danger of illegal conflicts of interest," Noah Bookbinder, the president of Citizens for Responsible Ethics told ABC News and as quoted by Fortune.

Also Read: Musk Pushes Lutnick For Trump’s Treasury Secretary

This uncertainty, along with the potential to influence government decisions that could benefit their businesses, has caused concern among ethicists.

Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsible Ethics, voiced concerns about the potential for illegal conflicts of interest. Representatives for X and the Trump transition team have yet to respond to requests for comment.

Why It Matters: This situation brings to light the ethical implications of requiring potential employees to financially contribute to a business as part of the application process.

It raises questions about transparency and potential conflicts of interest, especially when the business in question is run by a high-profile figure like Musk, who has significant influence over government decisions.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining clear boundaries between business and government to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

Read Next

What A Second Trump Presidency Would Mean For Elon Musk And His Many Ventures

This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.