Request for Oversight of Potential Conflict of Interest in New Drone Tariffs

Request for Oversight of Potential Conflict of Interest in New Drone Tariffs   President Trump just signed a proclamation imposing tariffs of up to 100% on imported drones over 55 lbs, or any drone with thermal imaging or docking stations (smaller drones face 25%; allied nations like the EU and Japan face 10-15%). The stated goal is to drive drone business away from foreign manufacturers — mainly Chinese — and toward U.S. manufacturers.   So who owns the U.S. manufacturers that stand to benefit?   Powerus, a company Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are investors in, makes drones over 55 lbs — including a 180-lb attack drone and heavy-lift platforms — squarely in the 100% tariff tier. Anduril, another company Donald Trump Jr.'s investment firm (1789 Capital) holds a stake in, makes drones built around thermal imaging as a core feature — also in the 100% tier.   The President's sons are invested in three more drone-related companies that may also benefit from competitors being tariffed: Unusual Machines (Donald Trump Jr., advisory board member and shareholder), Xtend (Eric Trump, investor), and Vulcan Elements (Donald Trump Jr.’s investment fund,1789 Capital).   Because these tariffs apply only to imports, none of these companies that Trump’s sons invested in pay them. The tariff instead raises the cost of their closest foreign competitors — in the exact product categories where the President's sons hold investments.   A tariff policy justified on national-security and domestic-manufacturing grounds happens to financially benefit companies in which the President's own sons are investors, in the specific product categories the tariff targets. Whether or not this was the intent, it is a textbook appearance of a conflict of interest, and it warrants review—as does the increasing interest by the Trump children in drone technology, at the time the U.S. needs it to fight their father’s war in Iran.   I am asking that you:   1. Request a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of the drone tariff decision, including whether any officials' family financial interests were disclosed or considered in the process. 2. Support congressional oversight hearings on conflicts of interest arising from family investments in companies affected by administration trade and defense policy.   Thank you for your time addressing this matter.