💼Commerce Secretary Lutnick accused of steering federal contracts to former employers

Federal procurement involves $650 billion annually in taxpayer money that should go to the best bidders, not officials' former employers—when commerce secretaries steer contracts to previous companies, competition dies and prices increase for everyone

Since 1962, conflict-of-interest laws prevent officials from enriching former employers because regulatory capture led to disasters like the 2008 financial crisis where Wall Street insiders regulated their own industry

When government contracts reward connections over capability, it destroys the free market competition that drives innovation—small businesses can't compete when officials favor Wall Street giants they used to work for

Citizens must believe government serves the national interest rather than corporate profits—when cabinet members enrich former employers, they prove the system works for insiders rather than the American people