DOGE Seeks SEC SPAC Rule Easing Amid Agency Concerns

President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, is actively pushing the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to relax regulations on Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) and private investment fund reporting requirements. These regulatory changes aim to reduce what DOGE and supporters view as burdensome policies implemented during the Biden administration that increased legal liabilities and disclosure requirements for SPACs. While DOGE officials have been embedded within the SEC and are engaging with staff to explore easing these rules, their involvement has raised concerns among SEC personnel and financial reform advocates about potential overreach and threats to the agency's independence. Critics argue that such direct influence by political appointees and external designees undermines the SEC’s traditional autonomy in rule-making. This regulatory push aligns with President Trump’s broader deregulatory agenda to stimulate economic growth by slashing government oversight and reducing compliance costs. The White House has defended the collaboration as an effort to maintain fair and orderly markets while protecting investors.