Staff Reports
In a move that has compliance officers across Washington sweating bullets, Elon Musk, the newly minted head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has set his sights on the perplexing financial success of certain members of Congress. During a recent rally in Wisconsin for judicial candidate Judge Brad Schimel, Musk shared his astonishment at how lawmakers, who make less than $200,000 a year, have somehow managed to accumulate what can only be described as ’cushy’ fortunes. Musk has promised that his team will attempt to unravel the mystery of how these elected officials have defied logic to end up with bank accounts that would make a lottery winner blush.
Musk’s wit was sharp as he pointed out the incongruity of legislators who are living like Silicon Valley tycoons while collecting standard government salaries. His incredulity was echoed in the crowd, where folks were eager to hear how the tech visionary planned to take on what many Americans see as a scandalous case of insider trading. With some congressional members boasting net worths that exceed the GDP of small nations, Musk’s announcement may have signaled the start of a cleaning-up operation in D.C., where the stench of corruption has long pervaded.
For context, Congress members can legally trade stocks and cryptocurrency, provided they disclose their transactions. Yet the base salary of Senators and Representatives hovers around $174,000—nothing to scoff at, but not enough to cover the millions that some have reportedly amassed. And while the Speaker of the House and a few other leaders make a little more, the question remains: how does one go from public servant to millionaire in the span of a few short terms?
#Musk Training #DOGE’s Sights on ‘Strangely Wealthy’ Members of #Congress: ‘How’d They Get $20 Million?’ https://t.co/4pYzwj3PsN
— NursingCareAtHome (@douglascooper73) March 31, 2025
One of the primary faces behind the outrage over this murky situation is none other than Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), who has been vocal about the need for stricter regulations on congressional trading. His proposed legislation, aptly named the “Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments” or PELOSI Act, aims to tackle the issue head-on. This is particularly relevant given the stunning wealth of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband, which has reached nearly $250 million. Critics, including former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, have pointed to Pelosi’s trading prowess as evidence that some members of Congress may be playing by a different set of rules.
Pelosi’s defense of congressional stock trading is a classic case of political maneuvering. She argues that lawmakers should be allowed to participate in the free market while simultaneously assuring that they’re adhering to the STOCK Act’s disclosure requirements. This carries a tantalizing layer of irony given that many view the system as blatantly rigged. It’s a prime example of how the powerful often craft rules that apply to everyone except themselves.
As recent reports shed light on Congress’s ethical shortcomings—including a Business Insider exposé entitled “Conflicted Congress”—the appetite for reform grows. Yet bipartisan efforts to curtail the stock trading practices have languished, suggesting that entrenched interests are not ready to give up their golden goose easily. With Musk’s unorthodox approach and DOGE’s eventual success still in question, one wonders whether the tech titan can bring some much-needed accountability to the nation’s capital. The American public will be watching closely as Musk and his crew take on the challenge of unveiling the financial dark arts that seem to thrive within the halls of Congress.
