- Three Musk associates hold leadership roles at GSA
- Unauthorized Starlink terminals discovered on agency roof
- $50 billion in federal contracts terminated since March
- AI tools deployed to automate government workforce functions
- 680+ federal property leases canceled in 90 days
Federal employees at the General Services Administration headquarters made a startling discovery this spring – commercial satellite equipment linked to Elon Musk’s private Starlink network installed on their rooftop. This unauthorized hardware triggered alarms about potential data security breaches at an agency managing $75 billion in annual government contracts.
The incident exposes Musk’s growing influence through strategic personnel placements at GSA. Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian, whose spouse previously worked at Musk’s X platform, leads an aggressive automation push using artificial intelligence. His team includes Tesla engineer Thomas Shedd and property specialist Nicole Hollander, both implementing Musk’s corporate cost-cutting strategies in federal operations.
Government efficiency experts warn this approach mirrors Musk’s controversial Twitter overhaul. Hollander’s track record includes circumventing safety codes during Twitter’s 2023 staff reductions, according to ongoing litigation. At GSA, she’s directed rapid property sales including sensitive facilities like a CIA location, temporarily listed before public backlash forced retraction.
The administration’s focus on real estate liquidation carries unintended consequences. A 2022 George Washington University study showed federal properties contribute $34 billion annually to local economies through maintenance contracts and community services. Regional impacts could be severe if sales eliminate these economic anchors.
Cybersecurity specialists express particular concern about Starlink’s presence. Unlike approved government systems, Musk’s satellite network operates outside federal data protection standards. “It’s like installing a corporate backdoor in Fort Knox,” said former NSA analyst Miranda Crosthwaite. “You’re handing operational control to a private entity with competing interests.”
The automation drive faces practical challenges. GSA’s new AI contract analyzer incorrectly flagged 18% of essential IT agreements for termination during testing, according to internal memos. Early adopters like Canada’s federal procurement office abandoned similar systems in 2023 after botched license renewals caused nationwide vaccine distribution delays.
As cots appear in GSA offices for round-the-clock work sessions, career staff report plummeting morale. “We’re dismantling systems that took decades to build without proper transition plans,” said one anonymous IT manager. “It’s fiscal responsibility through wrecking balls.”
