$6.3 Billion: The Contracts Musk Got While Leading DOGE

During the four months Elon Musk led the Department of Government Efficiency, he received at least $6.3 billion in government contracts. According to the Democracy Defenders Fund, a legal advocacy nonprofit, his companies gained at least another $10 billion in federal contracts after that period ended. These figures have become the focal point for Democratic lawmakers who now control both chambers of Congress following Tuesday's midterm elections.

Musk spent more than $200 million in Texas alone, according to federal filings, to support Republican candidates in the Senate race. Federal election filings analyzed by OpenSecrets show he gave more than $445 million to Republican candidates, political action committees, and outside groups across the country. This total makes him the top donor of the 2026 midterms and places him among the largest political donors in American history. Despite this spending, Republicans lost key races in his home state.

The central inquiry Democratic leaders intend to launch concerns whether Musk used his administrative influence to benefit his own businesses. Lawmakers want to determine if taxpayer money and government data were put at risk while he held a position of power. Rep. James Walkinshaw of Virginia argued that the executive must answer for his actions under oath. He accused Musk of lying to the public about savings while firing staff.

Foreign policy issues are also drawing attention. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware stated that Musk's links to Russian President Vladimir Putin will be added to the list of questions when he issues a subpoena. Rep. Mike Levin of California noted that Musk restricted Ukraine's use of Starlink satellite internet days after the U.S. eased sanctions on Russia. Levin questioned how an American ally's military operations could be disrupted by a private company owner with a direct line to the Kremlin.

Richard Painter, the former chief White House ethics lawyer under George W. Bush, said Musk was a part-time special government employee while leading DOGE. Under federal law, such personnel are prohibited from participating in official matters that affect their personal financial interests. Painter noted that SpaceX is a major contractor for NASA and the Department of Defense, meaning any action impacting the company could constitute a crime.

Texas has become the nerve center of Musk's business empire. Tesla's headquarters and a major manufacturing facility are in Austin, while SpaceX is based in southern Texas. The Boring Company and Neuralink also have headquarters in the state. Musk directed at least $225 million of his midterm spending to Texas, including support for Ken Paxton's Senate bid and Greg Abbott's reelection campaign. Both candidates lost to Democrats, who captured every statewide office in the state.

Market reactions reflected the political shift. On Wednesday, SpaceX shares fell nearly 4% and Tesla dropped 3%, even as broader markets rose. SpaceX is exploring several Texas sites for large data centers, and Tesla operates its Giga Texas facility in Austin. In August, plans for a $16.8 billion SpaceXAI semiconductor fabrication project in Texas were announced. James Talarico, who defeated Paxton in the Senate race, said his victory sent a message to billionaire mega-donors that power belongs to the people.

Musk did not respond to a request for comment from NPR. As results came in on Tuesday night, he wrote on his social media platform X, "Guess my election-interfering space lasers didn't work this time," followed by a shrug emoji. He had previously posted personal attacks against Talarico, including a claim on Nov. 1 that the senator would vote to trans kids. Talarico addressed these comments in his victory speech on Tuesday, stating that the real fight in the country is top versus bottom.