Senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff have formally requested an investigation into potential ethics violations by Elon Musk and officials from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In a letter addressed to CFPB Inspector General Mark Bialek, the lawmakers expressed concerns about actions taken by Musk, who serves as a senior advisor to President Trump and leads DOGE, which may have benefited his personal business interests.
The senators pointed out that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) plays a significant role in supervising the auto lending industry and protecting consumers. They argued that any actions by Musk and DOGE at the CFPB could potentially benefit companies like X, Visa, and Tesla, all of which are linked to Musk.
Federal ethics laws applicable to special government employees like Musk include conflict-of-interest statutes prohibiting them from taking actions that financially benefit themselves or their businesses. Warren and Schiff allege that Musk may have violated these rules. They also noted a lack of transparency from the Trump Administration regarding DOGE's activities or Musk’s compliance with ethics laws.
“If Mr. Musk has taken actions in his federal role that will benefit his financial interests without receiving appropriate waivers and approvals, he may have violated the criminal conflict of interest statute,” stated the lawmakers. Special government employees must adhere to the "Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch."
The senators emphasized the importance of oversight by stating: “The CFPB OIG plays a critical role in overseeing the CFPB’s compliance with federal laws and agency policies.” They urged for a review of actions taken by Musk and DOGE officials at CFPB since January 20, 2025, to ensure compliance with relevant federal ethics laws.
Warren and Schiff are calling for an investigation into whether ethics waivers were obtained or if there was improper access to CFPB data that could aid Musk's business ventures.