Bills of Congress by U.S. Congress

H.R.2737 - Eliminating Looting of Our Nation by Mitigating Unethical State Kleptocracy Act of 2025; ELON MUSK Act (119th Congress)

Summary

H.R.2737, also known as the ELON MUSK Act, aims to prevent special Government employees from holding contracts or agreements with the Federal Government. The bill stipulates that any existing contracts held by these employees would be terminated upon enactment. The definition of "special Government employee" refers to section 202 of title 18, United States Code.

Expected Effects

The primary effect of this bill would be to prohibit individuals serving as special Government employees from simultaneously benefiting from federal contracts. This could potentially reduce conflicts of interest and ensure impartiality in government contracting. It may also deter some individuals from serving as special government employees if they have significant federal contracts.

Potential Benefits

  • Reduces potential conflicts of interest in government contracting.
  • Promotes fairness and impartiality in the awarding of federal contracts.
  • Increases public trust in government operations.
  • May encourage more ethical behavior among government employees.
  • Could lead to cost savings for the government by preventing inflated contracts.

Potential Disadvantages

  • May discourage qualified individuals with relevant expertise from serving as special Government employees.
  • Could limit the pool of available experts for government advisory roles.
  • Potential for unintended consequences if the definition of "special Government employee" is too broad.
  • Possible legal challenges related to the termination of existing contracts.
  • May increase the administrative burden of monitoring and enforcing compliance.

Constitutional Alignment

The bill appears to align with the general principles of good governance and preventing corruption, which could be argued to support the Constitution's aim to "promote the general Welfare." However, the Constitution does not explicitly address the specific issue of special Government employees holding contracts. The power to regulate government contracts falls under the implied powers of Congress, derived from Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers.

Impact Assessment: Things You Care About

This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).