Our government should work for us, not for billionaires who are obligated to serve their investors. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are positioning themselves to lead a new government office called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As leaders of massive corporations, their legal duty is to prioritize profits for their investors. This creates a conflict of interest that makes it impossible for them to truly represent the public’s best interests.

This issue isn’t hypothetical... it’s happening right now. Musk has been using his social media platform to stir chaos in Congress over the federal budget, amplifying partisan divides. Combined with Trump’s influence on the process, the government remains at risk of shutting down, leaving millions of Americans uncertain about their livelihoods during the holidays. If billionaires like Musk gain more control over government decision-making, this kind of instability will only worsen, with policies increasingly serving corporate interests rather than the people.

We need to act now. If we allow billionaires with conflicting loyalties to take over our government, the consequences will be disastrous for everyday Americans. Our government is not a playground for billionaires! It belongs to the people. Let’s stand together and stop this power grab before it’s too late.

We sign this petition, to demand that Congress adopt the proclamation below, which affirms that individuals like Musk and Ramaswamy cannot serve in government roles while maintaining private interests that conflict with their duty to the public. Join us in standing for a government that works for the people—not for billionaires.

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Proposed Proclamation:

Proclamation Addressing Conflicts of Interest and Ethical Concerns in the Proposed Department of Government Efficiency

Whereas, the President-elect has proposed the creation of a new office, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to identify and implement budgetary efficiencies across federal agencies;

Whereas, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have been informally named as potential leaders or advisors to this office;

Whereas, both individuals are prominent private-sector entrepreneurs who retain significant financial interests in private businesses, including Tesla, SpaceX, X Corp (formerly Twitter), and Roivant Sciences, among others;

Whereas, it is imperative to uphold the integrity and transparency of the federal government and prevent conflicts of interest that could undermine public trust;

Be It Resolved, that the House of Representatives affirms the following legal and ethical principles:

1. Conflict of Interest (18 U.S.C. § 208): Federal officials, including advisors and members of any government office, are prohibited from participating in matters that would directly or predictably affect their financial interests or those of entities in which they have substantial ownership.   Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, by retaining leadership and financial interests in their respective corporations, are disqualified from holding official or advisory positions in DOGE unless they divest such interests or recuse themselves from all government matters involving their businesses.
2. Prohibition on Dual Compensation (18 U.S.C. § 209):  Federal employees, including special government employees, cannot receive any supplemental salary or compensation from private sources for their official duties. Any advisory or leadership role in DOGE would conflict with this prohibition if tied to private business incentives.
3. Ethics in Government Act:  Financial disclosures are mandatory for high-ranking officials or advisors to ensure transparency and to mitigate the risks of conflicts of interest. To date, neither Musk nor Ramaswamy has submitted such disclosures, as required by 5 U.S.C. App. § 101-111.
4. Procurement Integrity Act (41 U.S.C. § 2101-2107): The involvement of Musk or Ramaswamy in government budgetary efficiency projects may present risks of undue influence over federal procurement decisions, potentially providing unfair advantages to businesses with which they are affiliated.

Be It Further Resolved, that:

1. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are not recognized as federal officials or advisors to any federal office unless they formally divest from all conflicting financial interests, comply with federal ethics rules, and are confirmed or appointed in accordance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
2. Congress will not allocate funding or authorize the operation of DOGE until the office's structure, leadership, and oversight comply with federal conflict-of-interest laws and ethical guidelines.
3. The House of Representatives calls on the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) to provide guidance and oversight to ensure that all appointees and advisors to federal offices meet the highest standards of ethical conduct.

Resolved and Ordered, that this proclamation shall be forwarded to the President-elect, the Office of Government Ethics, and the United States Senate for their review and action.