Musk visits and asserts growing influence at GSA
The federal agency, located in Foggy Bottom just blocks from the White House, may not be well-known to much of the public, but it is a centralized hub that helps the government buy tens of billions of dollars worth of products and services, manage its real estate and use technology. It also has a role in government-wide policy.
Musk has several longtime associates installed at the agency, which could prove to be critical in his efforts to exert influence in Washington as he pushes ahead in his plans to cut costs, people and regulations under the Department of Government Efficiency, which Trump recently installed in a White House tech team. Musk’s own official role isn’t yet clear.
Longtime Musk ally Steven Davis has been involved in conversations with both GSA and the Office of Management and Budget, a source familiar told Nextgov/FCW. Davis has worked with Musk for over 20 years, cutting costs at SpaceX and Twitter in addition to working at Boring Co., according to the Los Angeles Times. Davis has also been linked to the DOGE.
A “Steven Davis” is now listed in GSA’s internal directory as working in the office of the administrator, although Nextgov/FCW couldn’t independently confirm that the Davis in question is Musk’s longtime associate. GSA did not respond to requests for comment.
Nicole Hollander — who worked as X’s real estate director and is also Davis’ partner — is working at GSA, according to a source familiar. She is also listed as working in the administrator’s office in the internal directory.
A veteran of Tesla, Thomas Shedd, is leading the agency’s tech shop, the Technology Transformation Services.
Trump has yet to name a nominee for the top position at GSA. A Salesforce alum, Stephen Ehikian, is currently running the agency as its deputy administrator.
A “Luke Farritor” is also listed in the internal employee directory as working in the GSA administrator’s office. A former SpaceX intern of the same name has been reported as winning a Musk-backed challenge to translate ancient scrolls, although Nextgov/FCW couldn’t independently confirm that this is the Farritor in question.
“The only way to stay ahead of the upheaval is to put Air Tags in the pockets of former Tesla and SpaceX employees roaming D.C., but if you’re not already with them then you’re just in the way,” said one former GSA employee of Musk’s reach into the agency.
The number of Musk allies in government has also caught the attention of Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee.
“The American people don’t want an unelected, unaccountable billionaire causing chaos and messing with their lives and livelihoods. That is oligarchy, not democracy,” he told Nextgov/FCW in a statement.
Musk’s GSA visit comes amid members of TTS being asked to do “touch-base” sessions, a move that’s already sparked confusion and anxiety among team members, sources familiar tell Nextgov/FCW.
“All signs point to TTS. That’s where all the action is right now. It’s not clear yet if they want to gut it or elevate it,” a GSA staffer told Nextgov/FCW.
The visit to GSA also follows a Musk stop-by at the Office of Personnel Management, the government’s HR shop, last Friday.
On Monday, feds received an email offering delayed resignations after OPM set up a new email system to communicate with feds en masse. The email, titled “Fork in the Road,” resembles one Musk sent to employees at X.com, formerly Twitter, in 2022.
GovExec Editor-in-Chief Frank Konkel contributed to this story.
]]>