Who Holds the Reins of the Federal Government: Musk, Trump, or Someone Else?

Mr. McBrien serves as the chief editor at Lawfare.

Recently, Scott Bessent, the Secretary of Treasury, supposedly permitted Elon Musk's associates to access the federal payment infrastructure.

This system manages a staggering flow of over $5 trillion in funds and holds sensitive information related to Social Security, Medicare, and government grants, including partnerships directly clashing with Musk's enterprises.

This incident marks the latest in an ongoing series of worrisome reports about the current administration's entanglements in every sector of government, extending to President Trump's direct influence that leads to the resignation of civil service employees.

Although the complete picture of federal reorganization remains blurred, Musk's exact responsibilities and tasks in this overhaul are not yet fully defined.

On Monday, President Trump attempted to provide some clarification, asserting that Musk cannot act without governmental consent.

Taken together, these reports contribute to a convoluted response to a straightforward inquiry: Who is steering the federal government?

The inability to answer 'our elected leaders' is unsettling. More worrisome is the idea that individuals like Musk and other influential, unapproved, non-elected allies with presidential connections may be playing substantial roles.

Economists and political analysts call this 'state capture.' This occurs when affluent private entities hold sway over a government, shaping policy and diverting public resources for personal gain or shared ideological objectives.