Luján, Min Introduce Legislation to Hold Special Government Employees Accountable, Prevent Them From Using Position for Financial Gain

Special Government Employees – Like Elon Musk – Have Personal Business Interests Intertwined with Official Government Work

Bill Would Prevent Special Government Employees From Acting in Their Own Financial Interest

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Congressman Dave Min (D-CA) introduced the Special Government Employees Transparency Act of 2025, legislation that would create transparency and accountability for special government employees (SGE). Senator Luján and Congressman Min’s bill would ensure that certain SGEs are subject to public financial disclosures and would ensure they abide by the same ethics rules as federal employees after 130 days. 

“Accountability is critical in government, that is why special government employees should be held to ethical standards that prevent them from using their position for their own financial gain,” said Senator Luján. “This legislation would boost transparency and accountability necessary to ensure special government employees don’t abuse their power. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Min on this important legislation to make certain that special government employees, like Elon Musk, are held to the highest ethical standards and don’t use their position to line their pockets.”

“Elon Musk and DOGE are operating without any accountability or oversight, and that is unacceptable. This legislation would increase transparency, holding Musk and his cronies responsible to the American people,” said Rep. Min. “I am grateful to work with Senator Lujan on this necessary legislation. No one is above the law, and no one should be using the federal government for their personal gain.”

An SGE is an officer or employee in the executive branch of the federal government who is appointed to perform limited, services to the government, with or without compensation, for a period not to exceed 130 days during any period of 365 consecutive days. The Special Government Employees Transparency Act of 2025 would provide additional transparency and accountability regarding SGEs:

1. 130-day limit: The bill would automatically convert any individual serving as an SGE to regular employee status after the individual has served 130 days in any 365-day period. 
2. Public disclosures: The bill would require public release of the financial disclosure reports of all but the lowest-level SGEs.
3. Public database: The bill would require the executive branch to maintain a public database of individuals serving with potentially problematic SGE designations.

The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).

The legislation is supported by the Project on Government Oversight (POGO), State Democracy Defenders Action, Public Citizen, and Campaign Legal Center, and CREW.

Full bill text is available here.

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