Sen. Yarbro, Rep. Powell introduce STOP ELON Act to protect Tennesseans from unlawful benefit disruptions

Legislation creates potential felony for meddling with government-backed payments to individuals, organizations

NASHVILLE — Tennessee Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) and state Rep. Jason Powell (D-Nashville) today introduced the Shielding Tennesseans from Oligarchic Power & Eliminating Lawless Obstruction of Necessities Act — the STOP ELON Act. Senate Bill 1128 aims to hold people accountable for unlawfully interfering with the distribution of government benefits that Tennessee families rely on.

The bill would create criminal penalties and a private right of civil action against any individual who obstructs or denies access to federal, state, or local government benefits, including Social Security payments, Medicare benefits, grants, and other financial distributions.

The legislation comes in response to explosive reports that billionaire Elon Musk illegally accessed the U.S. Treasury Department’s federal payment system, potentially compromising sensitive financial information about millions of Americans. Musk, the world’s richest man, is neither an elected official nor a government employee. He has not been confirmed by the Senate, nor is there evidence that he has undergone an FBI background check or obtained the necessary security clearances. Instead, he is a private citizen with massive foreign debts, deep conflicts of interest, and alarming personal motivations that make his access to government systems both dangerous and unacceptable.

“If Elon Musk illegally hurts Tennesseans, he should go to jail regardless of being a trillionaire or whatever and regardless of whether he’s got a permission slip from the president. Whether through malice or incompetence, if he unlawfully blocks our citizens from getting their Social Security checks or reimbursement from Medicaid or Medicare, his vast wealth should be on the table to compensate the people who get hurt,” said Sen. Yarbro. “We may not get bipartisan support this week while our more partisan colleagues are enjoying the sugar high of shuttering DEI programs and picking out vacation spots in Gaza, but you’ll see a bipartisan response materialize quick enough if the overreach of some 20-year-old leads to the closing of preschools, overdose prevention programs and rural hospitals.”

Rep. Powell emphasized the intent of the bill is to prevent abuses of power and ensure accountability, regardless of a person’s wealth or connections.

“Tennesseans who work hard and play by the rules should never have to worry about a billionaire meddling in their financial security,” said Rep. Powell. “People like Elon Musk need to understand that they are not invincible and the STOP ELON Act makes it crystal clear — no one is above the law. If you interfere with a person’s rightful benefits, you will be held accountable.”

Holding Lawbreakers Accountable

If Musk’s illegal meddling leads to Tennesseans being denied their benefits, the STOP ELON Act would ensure that those affected have legal recourse and that Musk — or any other bad actor — faces real consequences in Tennessee courts.

Under the proposed law, individuals who obstruct lawful government payments to citizens or organizations would face criminal penalties in line with Tennessee’s theft statutes. The obstruction of benefits valued at $1,000 or less would be charged as a Class A misdemeanor with increasing penalties up to the obstruction of benefits valued at $250,000 or more, which would be charged as a Class A felony and carry significant prison time.

Tennesseans harmed by these unlawful actions to obstruct payments would also have a clear legal pathway to sue for damages in state courts.

The STOP ELON Act sends a strong message: No billionaire, regardless of wealth or influence, has the right to play games with the financial well-being of hardworking Tennesseans.