Arne B. Baker
Acting Inspector General
U.S. Department of State
P.O. Box 9778
Arlington, VA 22219
Dear Acting Inspector General Baker,
We write to request an urgent review into potential corruption in the State Department’s handling of trade deal
negotiations that illegally benefit Elon Musk.
The Washington Post published a troubling report indicating the State Department is pushing countries facing
tariffs to increase the number of contracts received by Elon Musk’s company, Starlink.1 Musk, in addition to his
role at Starlink, is a Special Government Employee (SGE), Senior Advisor to President Trump, and a key
official at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This new reporting follows a letter from several
United States Senators expressing serious concern about the ways Musk is exploiting his position within the
Trump Administration to influence foreign governments for his own personal financial gain.2
The Washington Post’s reporting is based on leaked internal State Department documents and messages
indicating that, while engaging in trade talks, United States embassies and the State Department pushed nations
to make regulatory changes that allow Starlink to operate in their countries. The trade deal negotiations follow
the Trump administration’s decision to impose steep tariffs on 83 countries3 and require that countries negotiate
trade deals with the United States to receive relief from tariffs.4
In one instance, the State Department reportedly applied pressure on the country of Lesotho to finalize a
licensing deal with Starlink as a sign of “goodwill and intent to welcome U.S. businesses” and “as the
government of Lesotho negotiates a trade deal with the United States.” Starlink had been seeking access to
customers in Lesotho. Lesotho awarded Musk’s Starlink a 10-year satellite internet service license after the
Trump administration imposed a 50% tariff on the country and sought negotiations to provide tariff relief.5
Local NGOs called the licensing decision “a betrayal — a shameful sell-out by a government that appears
increasingly willing to place foreign corporate interests above the democratic will and long-term developmental
needs of the people of Lesotho.”6
NOTES:
1 “U.S. pushes nations facing tariffs to approve Musk’s Starlink, cables show,” The Washington Post, May 7, 2025,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/07/elon-musk-starlink-trump-tariffs/.
2 Office of U.S. Senator Mark Warner, Letter to President Donald Trump, May 2, 2025,
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/7/9/795381d0-20fc-49c7-9299-26e789aa490e/
457B1A635F3F9DA992D980A942B3D04EC0F86E2163A0EEFF2807C1A26629A05F.250502.senators-letter-to-potus.pdf.
3 “Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States
Goods Trade Deficits,” Federal Registry, https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-06063.pdf.
4 “What President Trump’s team wants from the rest of the world,” The Washington Post, April 13, 2025,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/04/13/trump-tariffs-trade-demands-talks/.
5 “Public Announcement - Licensing of the First Satellite Internet Service in Lesotho,” Lesotho Communications Authority, April 14,
2025, https://lca.org.ls/public-announcement-licensing-of-the-first-satellite-internet-service-in-lesotho/.
6 “Lesotho gives in, approves Starlink license,” Ground Up, April 15, 2025, https://groundup.org.za/article/lesotho-gives-in-approves-
starlink-licence/.
(2)
Similarly, Starlink just received conditional regulatory approval from the Indian government and reached
distribution deals in March with two giant telecommunications providers in India.7 Starlink applied for
regulatory approval nearly three years ago but only received approval after the Trump Administration imposed
a 26 percent tariff on India.8 Musk himself met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month.9 During
that meeting, they reportedly discussed “the ‘immense potential’ for collaboration in technology and
innovation.”10 According to officials familiar with U.S.-India trade deal negotiations, “government officials [in
India] have sped through approvals of Starlink with the understanding that doing so could help them cement
trade deals with the administration.”11
Reporting by the Washington Post also shows that Cambodia12 — which has a 49% tariff — and South Africa13
— which has a 30% tariff — have also explicitly discussed or moved toward adopting Starlink to negotiate a
better trade deal with the United States.
Finally, several other countries have made regulatory changes to make it easier for Musk’s Starlink to operate in
their countries just before or following the Trump administration’s tariff hikes.14 In early April, Bangladesh
announced a deal with Starlink after months of stalled negotiations.15 Bangladesh’s Telecommunication
Regulatory Commission issued what was described as “the swiftest recommendation” in its history for a
Starlink license — shortly after officials requested a delay in tariffs and met with Musk on White House
grounds.16
The possibility that Musk or other Trump Administration officials are financially benefiting from trade
negotiations raises serious concerns about whether these trade deals will be negotiated to benefit all Americans
and in alignment with our country’s strategic interests or to benefit Trump, Musk, and other elites. Families
should not face skyrocketing costs so the president’s donors and friends have leverage to become richer.
We ask that you immediately conduct a review into potential conflicts of interest and corruption in the State
Department’s handling of trade deal negotiations. Specifically, we ask that your review includes the following:
1. An assessment of conflicts of interest, pay for plays, or corruption present in the State Department’s
handling of trade deal negotiations and if those negotiations disproportionately benefited Elon Musk and
his companies.
2. An assessment of whether Elon Musk used his influence as a Senior Advisor to President Trump to
pressure the State Department to advocate for Starlink in trade deal negotiations. If you find that Elon
7 “Someone’s actually winning the trade war. It’s Elon Musk and Starlink.,” The Washington Post, April 30, 2025,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/04/30/elon-musk-starlink-bangladesh-tariffs/.
8 “Starlink receives govt clearance to offer satellite internet services in India,” Indian Express, May 8, 2025,
https://indianexpress.com/article/business/starlink-receives-govt-clearance-to-offer-satellite-internet-services-in-india-9989284/.
9 “PM Modi and Elon Musk talk India-US tech collaboration," BBC, April 18, 2025,
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8073ggz1eeo.
10 “Starlink receives govt clearance to offer satellite internet services in India,” Indian Express, May 8, 2025,
https://indianexpress.com/article/business/starlink-receives-govt-clearance-to-offer-satellite-internet-services-in-india-9989284/.
11 “U.S. pushes nations facing tariffs to approve Musk’s Starlink, cables show,” The Washington Post, May 7, 2025,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/07/elon-musk-starlink-trump-tariffs/.
12 Id.
13 “Someone’s actually winning the trade war. It’s Elon Musk and Starlink,” The Washington Post, April 30, 2025,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/04/30/elon-musk-starlink-bangladesh-tariffs/.
14 Id.
15 Id.
16 “Bangladesh approves Musk’s Starlink satellite internet services,” Anadolu Agency, April 6, 2025, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-
pacific/bangladesh-approves-musks-starlink-satellite-internet-services/3530001.
Musk did use his influence to benefit himself and his businesses financially, we ask that you refer the
case to the Department of Justice for a criminal investigation.
3. An assessment of the national security or geopolitical risks that could arise from corruption in the State
Department’s negotiation of trade deals.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Greg Casar
Member of Congress, Christopher S. Murphy
United States Senator, Gabe Amo
Member of Congress, Pramila Jayapal
Member of Congress, Adam B. Schiff
United States Senator, Cleo Fields
Member of Congress, Bernard Sanders
United States Senator
Rosa L. DeLauro, Member of Congress
Richard Blumenthal, United States Senator
Eleanor Holmes Norton, Member of Congress
Jeffrey A. Merkley, United States Senator
Chris Deluzio, Member of Congress
Rashida Tlaib, Member of Congress
Becca Balint, Member of Congress
Maxine Waters, Member of Congress
Robert Garcia, Member of Congress
Jan Schakowsky, Member of Congress
Dan Goldman, Member of Congress
John Garamendi, Member of Congress
Nanette Diaz Barragán, Member of Congress
Steven Horsford, Member of Congress
Shri Thanedar, Member of Congress
Lloyd Doggett, Member of Congress
Nydia M. Velázquez, Member of Congress
Yvette D. Clarke, Member of Congress
Delia C. Ramirez, Member of Congress
James P. McGovern, Member of Congress
Paul D. Tonko, Member of Congress
Yassamin Ansari, Member of Congress
Dave Min, Member of Congress
Maxwell Alejandro Frost, Member of Congress
Bonnie Watson Coleman, Member of Congress
Seth Moulton, Member of Congress