Scoop: Democrats launch campaign to oust Elon Musk from government by June

A group of House Democrats is launching a concerted campaign to force Elon Musk out of the Trump administration by May 30, Axios has learned.Why it matters: The effort is hinged on a legal requirement that special government employees — the designation given to Musk as he leads DOGE — not serve past 130 days."We demand an immediate public statement from your administration making clear that Musk will resign and surrender all decision making authority, as required by law, by May 30th," 77 House Democrats wrote in a letter to President Trump.They wrote that Musk would not be allowed to return as a special government employee for a year "without divesting from his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX."What they're saying: Congressional Progressive Caucus chair Greg Casar (D-Texas), who led the letter, told Axios in an interview that it is just the opening salvo."We're making it very clear that the public pressure is only going to ramp up on Republicans between here and May 30," he said.Casar said Democrats have "have legal tools at our disposal, political tools at our disposal," as well as the "full force of public pressure."Reality check: The Trump administration, in the view of many Democrats, has already ignored not only federal statute but the Constitution in areas far more weighty than government ethics rules.The White House may end up pointing to an Office of Government Ethics memo last year — during the Biden administration — that said unpaid travel days do not count towards the 130 days.

A group of House Democrats is launching a concerted campaign to force Elon Musk out of the Trump administration by May 30, Axios has learned.Why it matters: The effort is hinged on a legal requirement that special government employees — the designation given to Musk as he leads DOGE — not serve past 130 days."We demand an immediate public statement from your administration making clear that Musk will resign and surrender all decision making authority, as required by law, by May 30th," 77 House Democrats wrote in a letter to President Trump.

They wrote that Musk would not be allowed to return as a special government employee for a year "without divesting from his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX."What they're saying: Congressional Progressive Caucus chair Greg Casar (D-Texas), who led the letter, told Axios in an interview that it is just the opening salvo."We're making it very clear that the public pressure is only going to ramp up on Republicans between here and May 30," he said.

Casar said Democrats have "have legal tools at our disposal, political tools at our disposal," as well as the "full force of public pressure."Reality check: The Trump administration, in the view of many Democrats, has already ignored not only federal statute but the Constitution in areas far more weighty than government ethics rules.The White House may end up pointing to an Office of Government Ethics memo last year — during the Biden administration — that said unpaid travel days do not count towards the 130 days.

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