While Elon Musk hacks away at the federal bureaucracy in the name of efficiency, his company Starlink appears poised to steal a multibillion-dollar government contract from Verizon.The Federal Aviation Administration is on the cusp of canceling a $2.4 billion contract to overhaul the communication system for the nations air traffic control system and handing it to the SpaceX subsidiary instead, The Washington Post reports, citing two unnamed sources briefed on the plans. The news was also confirmed by Bloomberg and The Associated Press.Its unclear exactly how this would unfold whether the FAA would hand some of the work to Starlink while allowing Verizon to continue its own effort or simply cancel the contract with Verizon and award it to Starlink. Whatever the outcome, it is sure to raise accusations of favoritism, cronyism, and conflicts of interest, as Musk continues to serve as the face of the Department of Government Efficiency-run effort to slash spending and lay off federal workers, despite the structural damage that causes.It is sure to raise serious accusations of favoritism and conflicts of interestMusk has been sowing doubt about the Verizon system for several days, claiming without evidence that its not working and so is putting air travelers at serious risk. Earlier today, he posted on X that the Verizon communication system is breaking down very rapidly and that the FAA assessment is single digit months to catastrophic failure, putting air traveler safety at serious risk. He also claimed that Starlink terminals would be provided at NO COST to the taxpayer on an emergency basis to restore air traffic control connectivity.This, of course, follows a pattern, in which Musk posts on X about something regarding the FAA and then seems to will it into existence. Previously, the billionaire called for FAA administrator Michael Whitakers resignation, after the agency fined SpaceX for failing to get approval for rocket launch changes. After his repeated comments, Whitaker resigned on the day of Donald Trumps inauguration.A team from SpaceX, Starlinks parent company, has been working within the FAA in recent weeks to help modernize the agencys aging technology system. US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said they were tasked with developing a new, better, modern and safer system.Several SpaceX employees now have FAA email addresses, the Post reports. One SpaceX employee posted a photo of the team on X, with the statement, Working to improve the safety of the national air space system.The FAA was scheduled to make a decision to start paying out the Verizon contract next month. But the SpaceX team reportedly recommended it be awarded to Starlink instead, the Post reports, citing an unnamed source with knowledge of the plans. So far, the formal process of unwinding one contract and awarding it to another company has reportedly not been followed. Several senior FAA officials have refused to sign the contract, leading Musks team to seek help from a Trump appointee within the agency.Much of Musks wealth comes from government largesse. According to the Post, his companies have received approximately $38 billion in government contracts, loans, subsidies, and tax credits over the years.There have been four commercial aircraft crashes globally in the last 11 weeks, as well as a handful of private plane crashes and several near misses. Meanwhile, the air traffic control system appears to be in chaos, with hundreds of employees cut. Despite air travel being safer than it has ever been before, many people are left with the perception of a global aviation system thats coming apart at the seams.See More: