Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Unelected Billionaire’s Hostile Takeover of Federal Government
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman issued a statement regarding an unelected billionaire infiltrating the federal government and initiating a hostile takeover aimed at weakening the United States against our foreign adversaries, with whom this billionaire has significant financial interests.
“Elon Musk, an unelected billionaire donor, has mounted a hostile takeover of the federal government.
“This is an astonishing display of corruption. A billionaire CEO, who was not appointed or confirmed, who donated millions to Donald Trump’s election campaign is now in charge of the Treasury Department payment system.
“The richest man in the world now has direct access to the personal and financial information of millions of Americans, including Social Security numbers and bank account details. This unprecedented breach of public trust puts countless Americans at risk of identity theft, financial fraud, and political retaliation. Handing over such sensitive data to a reckless billionaire with a history of self-serving business dealings and foreign interests is not just irresponsible - it’s dangerous.
“He has ordered the shuttering of USAID, an organization established by law, that combats terrorism, reduces world hunger, and facilitates American diplomacy across the globe. To be clear, he does not have the authority to close USAID.
“He is attempting to dismantle systems within the federal government for several reasons. The first is that, contrary to the image he has lied hard to cultivate, he is not a competent manager. He does not understand how many government organizations function, or the important role they play in supporting the United States and its citizens. Rather than learn, he is choosing to break them, like a frustrated and impatient child.
“The second is that he sees an opportunity to make more money. His companies already receive billions in government contracts. By taking control of key parts of the federal government, he can steer more taxpayer money into his own pockets.
“The last reason is ideological. He was born and raised in South Africa under the apartheid system. He is a white supremacist. He elevates the opinions of neo-Nazis on his social media platform, and himself proudly gave a Nazi salute at a rally earlier this year. He does not want the government to work for or answer to anyone who is not a straight rich white man.
“All day yesterday and today, my constituents have been calling my office, understandably furious at this naked display of corruption. I share their outrage because this is an outrageous thing we are witnessing.
“My Congressional colleagues and I have been in discussions over the past few days about how to proceed, about what we can do to fight back. I am fully committed to using every tool at my disposal to resist this egregious, un-American, unconstitutional overreach.”