[pyrale]

Regardless of the decision, a businessman being in control of the government agency that funds his company is as bad as it gets in terms of corruption.

Next time there's a tender, how will the NASA employee know whether their decision wrt SpaceX is going to get them fired or not?

[throwawaymaths]

why isn't it considered corruption if you've been a career employee and you get promoted to be in control of an agency? You'll be tendering all of the salaries of all of the people you've known and/or contracted with over your career.

(im not saying elon is good here)

[pyrale]

> why isn't it considered corruption if you've been a career employee and you get promoted to be in control of an agency?

Because a civil servant being promoted to be "in control" merely means that they become the first contact the political administrators give their orders/roadmap to, and their role is to execute on that roadmap. They don't get to decide the agency budget or goals, and they're the one who get fired when they're in conflict with elected officials or their representatives, or if issues with the administration come up.

[hedora]

Because you don’t have a direct financial incentive to embezzle funds or sabotage the agency’s mission.

Elon does.

Also, these career employees rose through the ranks based on job performance, and did so regardless of which political party was in charge.

[throwawaymaths]

1. direct financial incentive is not the only form of corruption

> Elon does.

note the "not defending elon" bit.

> these career employees rose through the ranks based on job performance,

2. thats laughable (i have a direct relative who works for the federal government and based on their commentary thats a crazy thing to believe)

[mcmcmc]

The agency head does not tender salaries, or set government service payscale, or even make the vast majority of hiring decisions.