Tennessee State Senator Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) on Thursday filed legislation that he said could lead to the jailing of Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk, if the government reformer’s work “hurts Tennesseans” by denying them grant funding through DOGE’s efforts to cut wasteful spending.
Senate Bill (SB) 1128 by Jeff Yarbro, submitted Thursday as the “Shielding Tennesseans from Oligarchic Power and Eliminating Lawless Obstruction of Necessities” (STOP ELON) Act, would create a new felony offense that would be applied to anyone who, according to a description of the bill, interferes “with an individual’s or entity’s receipt of a loan, grant, or financial assistance,” to which the government previously said they were entitled.
In addition to punishing the freezing of grant funding as a theft, the legislation would authorize those who had their funding frozen to file a civil lawsuit against the person responsible.
The law comes shortly after the Trump administration’s executive orders and memos have ordered agencies to freeze all discretionary spending, including the dispersal of grant money, while the White House determines which programs do not violate executive orders signed by the president.
Yarbro said in a statement that the government’s efforts to curtail spending could land Musk behind the bars of a Tennessee jail.
“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,” said Yarbro.
The Nashville Democrat appeared to acknowledge the legislation is likely destined for defeat under the Republican super majority in the General Assembly, stating that it “may not get bipartisan support,” but asserted that Republicans would ultimately object, “if the overreach of some 20-year-old leads to the closing of preschools, overdose prevention programs and rural hospitals.”
Yarbro did not explain how the Trump administration’s efforts to cut waste, including through reexamining government grants, could lead to such repercussions. He also claimed the Trump administration could threaten Social Security payments and coverage for those on Medicaid or Medicare.
State Representative Jason Powell (D-Nashville), who submitted a yet-to-be numbered version of the legislation in the State House, similarly said the bill was targeted at Musk.
“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,” Powell stated.
Despite Nashville Democrats agitating against Musk, the billionaire owner of the social media platform X recently announced a major investment in another part of Tennessee, as Musk’s xAI announced plans last year to build the world’s largest supercomputer in Memphis.
While it remains unclear exactly who would be victims to Musk under the STOP ELON Act, officials at Vanderbilt University recently scrubbed the institution’s web page that was previously devoted to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) amid the Trump administration’s freeze on all funding related to controversial DEI programs.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Image “State Senator Jeff Yarbro” by State Senator Jeff Yarbro.
This local politician (who I’ve never heard of before) thinks that state officials control the disbursement of federal money?
Is he one of those who argues against withholding state tax collections from the fed?
Pr … is he one who is affected by the termination of unlawful grants; one of those whose financial statement(s) will be affected when the graft stops?
Perhaps, perhaps not. But questions need to be asked.
Yarbrough, Freeman both pitiful excuses of a legislator who need to be relieved of their positions
The fact that Vanderbilt scrubbed their DEI POLICIES & PROCEDURES makes me think they were getting a bite of that poisonous apple in USAID.
USAID may have been started in good faith.
But Deep Staters like Samantha Powers & Victoria Nuland just to name a couple, often misused our tax dollars to fund regime changes & color revolutions in countries around the world.
Millions went to the Clinton Foundation as one example. How was that used?
Over time Billions are being misused to interfere in foreign elections.
It funded both of the illegal impeachment against Trump, which he defeated by votes in the Senate.
All of this needs to be thoroughly investigated & prosecuted. It’s a crime to abuse Taxpayer dollars. Kash Patel & Pam Bondi are just the right team to bring American taxpayers the justice we deserve.
It’s a Democrat Cartel.
This is exactly why Americans are leaving the Democrat Party in Droves.
Elon Musk was given the authority by our great President Trump, to find all the insane ways that Democrats & their Deep State DONORS have profited personally from our hardworking midfle class taxpayers.
It’s time for Nashvillians to wake up & see that the Socialist Mayor & his hand selected Council Members are taking his Constituents to the cleaners with his ” CHOOSE HOW YOU MOVE”
bulls–t law that Nashvillians were trucked into voting for.
Our Roads suck.
Who voted to have the ugly white sticks lining our bad roads, so bikers could be safe? I’ve never seen a single biker taking advantage of their “Special Lane”. Wonder which Donor or donor’s kid got that useless contract?
Metro employees are allowed to live outside Davidson County, which means they do NOT pay Metro taxes, even though they use our roads & we pay their salaries, health insurance & pensions. More of the tax burden falls on those of us who reside inside the county.
Some even drive their Metro Vehicles home, to another county.
WAKE UP NASHVILLIANS. DEMS ARE SINKING US INTO MORE & MORE DEBT.
VOTE IN COMMON SENSE
VOTE REPUBLICAN
And many Tennesseans would like to see Yarbro out of elected office. He is just another lawyer that is a constitutional illiterate.
This guy is an old KKK leftover that hates anything good for the people of Tennessee. He wants illegals to take over Nashville, hew acts transgender people in each classroom and wants police to be defunded..
Needs i say anymore..
God Bless America and the people of Tennessee …..
If America’s had the “Good Sense” of Germany they would deny the Democrats a place on any ballot, same the Germans did the Nazi PaRTY>
Oooh, he cares! He really cares! BHAHAHAHAA.
As I told him on his Twitter X account, You make Tennessee look 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗣𝗜𝗗‼️
Tennessee voted for @realDonaldTrump try to keep up.
Unreal how stupid these people are.
https://www.infowars.com/posts/must-watch-deep-state-racketeering-money-laundering-organized-crime-continues-to-be-exposed-by-doge-theyre-all-in-on-it
What a cute name. listen Bubba, the liberal gravy trail is over. Your party has spent our nation to the brink of financial ruin.
You need to start reading the real news instead of the liberal propaganda on MSNBC so you really know whats happening in America.
He wants to be Mayor so bad. He’s like a less masculine Megan Barry.
I hope he didn’t stay up all night thinking of that one.
Another Democrat who wants Tax and Spend, Tax and Spend.
Just another Democrat who can’t accept the results of the election. Hopefully the Republicans have learned from the first Trump term how to more effectively combat Democratic obstruction and lawfare.
Meanwhile, Marxist Demonrats like Yarbro still infest the halls of power, hurting millions of Americans. When do they go to prison for their crimes?