The Trump Organization signed a massive $5.5 billion golf resort deal with Qatari Diar and Dar Global, developing an 18-hole golf course and luxury villas in the Simaisma community north of Doha, Qatar. The project raises significant conflict of interest concerns, as it involves a government-owned …
Donald TrumpEric TrumpTrump OrganizationQatari DiarDar Global+1 moreforeign-influencegovernment-contractspresidential-businessmiddle-east-relationsconflict-of-interest
Trump’s cryptocurrency firm, World Liberty Financial, made $550 million through secret payments from foreign entities, including a $2 billion investment from an Abu Dhabi state-backed firm and $75 million from Chinese investor Justin Sun, raising significant conflict of interest concerns.
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationJustin SunTahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyancryptoforeign-influenceregulatory-capturegovernment-contractsconflict-of-interest
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is investigating 39 separate instances where the Trump administration potentially violated the Impoundment Control Act by illegally withholding over $430 billion in congressional appropriations from various federal agencies. The investigations span multiple …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationRuss VoughtGovernment Accountability OfficeRosa DeLauro+1 moregovernment-contractslegislative-captureconstitutional-crisisbudget-manipulation
Senate Democrats released a report detailing how Elon Musk’s companies could avoid more than $1.19 billion in potential legal and regulatory fines, highlighting systemic regulatory capture under the Trump administration. The report specifically focuses on Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) …
Donald TrumpElon MuskRichard BlumenthalEdward Markeygovernment-contractsregulatory-capturetech-industryfederal-investigation
Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) signed a binding agreement with Crypto.com and Yorkville America Digital to launch a series of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focusing on digital assets and ‘Made in America’ industries. The deal involves Crypto.com providing broker-dealer services …
Donald TrumpDevin NunesKris MarszalekTrump Media & Technology GroupCrypto.comcryptomedia-controlgovernment-contractsetfdigital-assets
President Trump’s 2025 inaugural committee raised a record $239 million, which is more than double the $109 million raised in 2017. The fundraising total includes $161.1 million from corporations, with 104 companies donating $1 million or more. Top donors included Pilgrim’s Pride ($5 …
Donald TrumpTrump Inaugural Committeegovernment-contractscorporate-influenceinaugurationfundraising
Trump’s inauguration donor pool included $50 million in contributions from corporations under investigation or facing federal enforcement, 17 of which have seen their cases halted
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationgovernment-contracts
Pilgrim’s Pride, a meat processor that paid over $100 million in antitrust fines, made the largest single $5 million donation to the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee. Senator Elizabeth Warren launched an investigation into potential quid pro quo, highlighting the company’s simultaneous …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationPilgrim's PrideSenator Elizabeth Warrengovernment-contractscorporate-donationsantitrustinaugural-fund
The Trump administration is fast-tracking a $25 million pilot contract for Ramp, a politically connected FinTech startup backed by Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, and JD Vance allies, to manage the $700 billion SmartPay government expense card program. Ramp, valued at $13 billion, has deep ties to …
Donald TrumpPeter ThielElon MuskJ.D. VanceGerald Connolly+2 moretrump-administrationgovernment-contractsfintechpeter-thielregulatory-capture+1 more
Trump announced agreements with five major law firms to provide a combined $600 million in pro bono legal services to causes he supports, pushing the total pledged to nearly $1 billion
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationgovernment-contracts
In an unprecedented move, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) secured access to the U.S. Treasury’s federal payment system, sparking intense controversy among Democratic senators who view this as a potential risk to national financial infrastructure and personal data …
Elon MuskDepartment of Government Efficiency (DOGE)David LebrykChuck SchumerPatty Murray+1 moregovernment-contractstechnological-infiltrationfinancial-capture
The CFPB dismissed a lawsuit against Comerica Bank that had accused the bank of systematically mistreating 3.4 million federal benefits cardholders through disconnected customer service, illegal fees, and mishandled fraud complaints. The lawsuit, originally filed in December 2024 by then-Director …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationRohit ChopraComerica BankBank of New York Mellonregulatory-capturegovernment-contractsjustice-weaponizationcfpbtrump-administration
Binance executives met with Treasury officials to request removal of U.S. monitor overseeing anti-money-laundering compliance while simultaneously negotiating deals with Trump’s World Liberty Financial crypto venture
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcryptoregulatory-capturegovernment-contracts
The Trump White House negotiated deals with top law firms—including Latham & Watkins, Simpson Thacher, Kirkland & Ellis, and A&O Shearman—to provide approximately $500 million in pro bono legal work. In exchange, these firms would avoid potential sanctions targeting organizations with …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationLatham & WatkinsSimpson ThacherKirkland & Ellis+3 moregovernment-contractsexecutive-powerlegal-captureregulatory-leverage
A leaked service agreement between the Department of Labor and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) shows a $1.3 million fee for DOGE’s work, contradicting Elon Musk’s previous claims that DOGE would cost taxpayers nothing. The agreement covers four DOGE affiliates over an …
Elon MuskDonald TrumpDepartment of LaborUS Digital Service (USDS)regulatory-capturegovernment-contractsinstitutional-transformationtrump-administration
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft was pressured by the Trump White House to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services to avoid punitive executive orders. The firm negotiated under threat, joining other major law firms capitulating to similar White House demands. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse …
Donald TrumpCadwalader, Wickersham & TaftSenator Sheldon WhitehouseTodd Blanchegovernment-contractslegal-system-captureexecutive-power-abuse
SpaceX awarded $5.9 billion for 28 launches through 2029 as largest share of $13.5 billion National Security Space Launch Phase 3 contracts. Award occurred while congressional oversight investigation examined Musk’s $9.5 billion total DoD contracts and potential conflicts with his advisory …
SpaceXU.S. Space ForceElon MuskRep. Stephen LynchRep. Gerry Connolly+1 morespacexgovernment-contractsconflict-of-interestcongressional-oversightelon-musk+1 more
Trump’s sweeping 10% universal tariffs unveiled Wednesday exempt many fossil fuel products—including LNG imports, Canadian crude, and petrochemical inputs—which came after the fossil fuel industry contributed $96 million to Trump’s re-election effort
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationgovernment-contracts
President Trump unveiled ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs on April 2, 2025, imposing a baseline 10% tariff on all imports and specific higher rates on key trading partners like China (34%) and the EU (20%). Describing the global trade system as having ’looted, pillaged, raped and …
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcorruptiongovernment-contractstariffstrade-policyeconomic-manipulation
Law firm Milbank LLP reached a $100 million pro bono settlement with Trump to avoid punitive executive orders, part of a broader trend of law firms making strategic agreements to maintain government contracts
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationScott EdelmanMilbank LLPgovernment-contractsexecutive-powerlegal-services
Trump issued a full pardon to HDR Global Trading, the parent company of crypto exchange BitMEX, which had pleaded guilty to violating anti-money laundering laws and was fined $100 million
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcryptopardongovernment-contracts
Multiple law firms entered into controversial pro bono settlements with the Trump administration, agreeing to provide services after facing potential executive orders threatening their federal contracts and access. These settlements, totaling approximately $1 billion in pro bono work, raised …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationLaw Firms Targetedgovernment-contractsexecutive-orderslegal-system
Shares in Trump Media and Technology Group dropped about 5% after the company filed paperwork with the SEC that could allow Trump’s trust to sell up to 115 million shares, worth more than $2.3 billion, raising concerns about a potential insider selloff
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationmedia-controlregulatory-capturegovernment-contracts
The State Department announced plans to pay Tesla $400 million for unspecified services, coming weeks after Trump systematically fired federal officials investigating Elon Musk’s companies. The payment followed the removal of FDA staffers reviewing Neuralink, EEOC leaders investigating Tesla …
State DepartmentTeslaElon MuskDonald Trumpelon-muskteslastate-departmentgovernment-contractsquid-pro-quo+1 more
Trump administration pauses the $42 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program to implement ’tech-neutral’ approach, potentially allowing Elon Musk’s Starlink to receive $10-20 billion in federal grants instead of the original $4.1 billion. Critics argue this …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationElon MuskDepartment of CommerceHoward Lutnickgovernment-contractsstarlinkbroadbandfederal-grantsmusk-benefits
The Trump family, in partnership with the Witkoffs, quietly seized control of World Liberty Financial after raising $550 million through sales of WLFI tokens. The venture includes a USD1 stablecoin and has attracted significant foreign investment, including a potential $2 billion deal with an Abu …
Donald TrumpEric TrumpZach WitkoffJustin Suncryptogovernment-contractsforeign-investmentfinancial-captureoffshore-investment
President Trump negotiated a $100 million pro bono legal services deal with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, effectively avoiding an executive order that would have penalized the firm. The agreement includes specific conditions about employment practices and representation.
Donald TrumpJeremy LondonSkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLPmedia-controlgovernment-contractslegal-systemexecutive-power
Musk’s PAC spent over $20 million in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race, where Tesla has a lawsuit challenging the state’s ‘factory store’ law. The race is the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history, with potential implications for car sales, abortion rights, …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationElon MuskBrad Schimelgovernment-contractsjustice-weaponizationelection-influencecorporate-lobbying
Former federal employees and watchdog groups warn that the Trump administration’s policy changes enable Elon Musk to steer lucrative contracts toward SpaceX and Starlink, potentially privatizing key government space and satellite operations
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationElon MuskMikie SherrillTim Whitehousegovernment-contractsinfrastructure-privatizationtrump-administrationelon-musk
Christopher Garcia, CEO of Health Supply US which has received $179 million in government
contracts primarily from Defense and Homeland Security, purchased Vice President JD Vance’s
Alexandria, Virginia home on March 14 for $1.9 million—$172,025 over the $1.69 million
asking price. Garcia, who …
The 2025 White House Easter Egg Roll marked an unprecedented moment of corporate capture, with tech giants Meta, YouTube, and Amazon purchasing sponsorship packages ranging from $75,000 to $200,000. These packages included branded activation spaces, event brunch tickets, and potential meet-and-greet …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationMetaYouTubeAmazon+2 moregovernment-contractscorporate-accesstrump-administrationinstitutional-capturecorporate-sponsorship
SpaceX continues to receive substantial federal contracts, totaling $9.5 billion from the Department of Defense in 2025, despite congressional investigations into potential conflicts of interest stemming from Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration. These contracts include a $5.9 billion …
Donald TrumpElon MuskTrump AdministrationRep. Stephen LynchRep. Gerry Connollygovernment-contractskleptocratic-capturesystematic-corruptioncorporate-capture
President Trump rescinded Executive Order 14237 targeting Paul Weiss law firm after the firm agreed to provide $40 million in pro bono legal services, adopt political neutrality, and support causes aligned with the administration’s priorities.
Donald TrumpPaul Weiss Law FirmMark Pomerantzgovernment-contractsexecutive-powerlegal-servicesinstitutional-capture
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, faces scrutiny for overstating federal contract savings and potentially using government access to benefit Musk’s business interests. The Treasury Department has launched an audit to investigate DOGE’s access to payment …
World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture backed by Trump’s family, announced it raised $250 million in its second token sale, bringing total sales to $550 million. The project demonstrates potential conflicts of interest and regulatory capture in the cryptocurrency sector.
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationWorld Liberty FinancialJustin Suncryptoworld-liberty-financialgovernment-contractscrypto-ventureregulatory-capture+3 more
Evan Feinman, who led the Commerce Department’s $42.5 billion broadband program, resigned warning that Trump is restructuring the initiative to benefit Elon Musk’s Starlink
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationregulatory-capturegovernment-contracts
The Trump administration pressured nine major law firms to provide $940 million worth of free legal services to defend administration policies and officials. Under threat of losing federal contracts and being blacklisted, firms like Paul Weiss, Kirkland & Ellis, and Skadden agreed to …
Trump AdministrationMajor law firmsPaul, WeissKirkland & EllisLatham & Watkins+6 morelegal-extortionlaw-firmscorruptionpro-bono-coerciongovernment-contracts+1 more
Elon Musk informed the Trump Administration of his intent to donate $100 million to Trump’s political groups, expanding his significant financial support following the 2024 election. Musk’s America PAC had already spent over $239 million supporting Trump’s campaign, making him the …
The Department of Transportation placed the $24 billion Verizon FAA contract under review, with Elon Musk positioning Starlink as a potential alternative vendor. This review comes amid claims about the existing communication system’s reliability and potential performance issues in air traffic …
The Trump administration circumvented standard procurement processes to award a $200 million DHS advertising contract to two Republican-linked political consulting firms, bypassing competitive bidding and using taxpayer funds for a politically-motivated ‘self-deportation’ media campaign.
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationKristi NoemJay ConnaughtonMike McElwainregulatory-capturegovernment-contractsimmigration-policymedia-manipulation
SpaceX confirmed a loan agreement with L3Harris to provide Starlink satellite communication terminals to the FAA for infrastructure testing, specifically in Alaska. The agreement involves providing 4,000 Starlink kits free of charge for an initial evaluation period, raising potential conflict of …
Cryptocurrency Tether went from target of government scrutiny to ally of Trump; it’s backed by Commerce Secretary Lutnick and now holds $140 billion in US Treasury bonds—making it the 17th-largest holder of US debt
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcryptoregulatory-capturegovernment-contracts
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) demanded $4 million from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to fund 20 full-time positions tasked with implementing widespread federal workforce reductions. OPM was required to submit Reduction in Force (RIF) plans targeting approximately 70,000 …
Elon MuskDonald TrumpTrump AdministrationOffice of Personnel Managementgovernment-contractsworkforce-reductionregulatory-capturefederal-employment
The Trump administration effectively paralyzed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in March 2025, freezing hundreds of millions in consumer protection payouts and halting dozens of ongoing corporate investigations. Under Acting Director Russell Vought, the agency’s headquarters was …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationRussell Voughtregulatory-capturegovernment-contractsconsumer-protectionfinancial-regulation
FAA approves 4,000 Starlink terminals worth $400 million despite existing contract with another company, while State Department announces $400 million Tesla Cybertruck contract and Commerce changes broadband requirements favoring Starlink.
FAAStarlinkTeslaState DepartmentDepartment of Commerceself-dealingstarlinkgovernment-contractsmuskregulatory-capture
The SEC moved to pause its civil fraud case against cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun, a key adviser to Trump’s World Liberty Financial, signaling a potential negotiated resolution. Sun, who invested at least $75 million in Trump-linked crypto assets, appears to have secured a temporary …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationJustin SunSECcryptocorruptionregulatory-capturegovernment-contractssec+1 more