I don't see "kleptocracy" happening. At least, not to Musk's benefit, so far. I think that it's more likely that Musk was in good faith trying to improve the government, at the expense of his own wealth. He's just marching to his own drummer.
He is literally dealing with himself when Starlink and SpaceX are getting government contracts. Or rather, agencies trying to curry favor with him and president (or trying to avoid their wrath) have to give them contracts. Same goes for Tesla.
Also, there is literally zero to suggest he was "good faith trying to improve the government". He was buying political influence so that he can make changes beneficial for him and damaging for those he looks down at. That is not the same.
> Elon Musk appears to be laying the groundwork to privatize some space and satellite operations now under the authority of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), or steer lucrative contracts toward his SpaceX and Starlink companies, former agency employees say.
> They’re sounding the alarm as at least four other federal agencies have reportedly begun pushing new contracts toward Musk’s Starlink satellite internet company.
> In the wake of a firing spree that gutted some NOAA space operations, Donald Trump Jr’s investment firm stoked speculation by purchasing $50M worth of SpaceX shares.
> On Friday, FAA officials ordered staff to begin finding tens of millions of dollars for a Starlink deal, according to a source with knowledge of the FAA and two people briefed on the situation. The sources note that these internal directives have mostly, if not entirely, been delivered verbally — which they say is unusual for a matter like this.
