Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, may have the opportunity to defer billions in capital gains taxes if he takes a government position under President-elect Donald Trump. Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are suggested to lead a proposed 'Department of Government Efficiency' (DOGE) aimed at reducing wasteful expenditures in the federal budget. Although Congress must establish a new department, the Republican majority in both the Senate and House starting in 2025 could facilitate this. If Musk were considered an executive branch employee, he could potentially defer capital gains taxes on assets divested to comply with federal regulations. Critics have raised concerns regarding conflicts of interest, especially given Musk's significant economic interests in government contracts through SpaceX and Tesla. Ramaswamy stated that the DOGE would cease operations in 2026 after a planned government downsizing, which includes further budget cuts to agencies like the FDA and Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Source 🔗