A significant portion of the American public believes Elon Musk and tech companies wield excessive influence over U.S. government policy, according to a new national poll by UMass Amherst. Conducted from April 4 to April 9, the survey found that over half of respondents view Musk’s authority within the Trump administration as problematic.

Now serving as head of the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has launched a campaign to reduce federal regulations and cut public spending. However, his dual identity as a billionaire CEO and now a high-ranking government official has triggered conflict-of-interest concerns.

More than 59% of poll participants said they did not trust Musk to refrain from using his government position to benefit his private businesses. “The blurred lines between corporate power and federal authority are exactly what Americans are concerned about,” noted pollster Professor Tatishe Nteta.

Calls for Oversight Intensify as Ethics Questions Mount

Senator Elizabeth Warren has responded by co-sponsoring legislation that would mandate ethics reviews for government appointees from the private sector. She has also renewed her call for reinstating the Department of Justice’s crypto enforcement division, warning that deregulation could enable exploitation.

Musk’s past support for cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin further complicates his position, given the lack of clear separation between public duties and private market influence.

Meanwhile, President Trump is facing criticism of his own. According to Fortune, he is preparing to launch a real estate game tied to cryptocurrency, raising fresh questions about his financial interests intersecting with political decisions.

With ethics and regulation dominating headlines, the debate over public accountability for powerful figures like Musk is heating up—signaling a broader reckoning in how America governs tech’s growing role in shaping national policy.