John,
If you’re wondering how billionaire megadonors cash in on their investments, look no further than Peter Thiel and JD Vance. Thiel bankrolled Vance’s Senate run with $15 million.[1] Now, as Trump’s Vice President, Vance cast the decisive vote on a bill that funnels contracts and tax breaks directly to Thiel’s company, Palantir.
The Big Ugly Bill isn’t just another right-wing tax giveaway. It creates a $900 billion slush fund for Pentagon contractors and directly assaults social programs. It expands surveillance powers, guts Medicaid and SNAP, and hands corporations massive tax cuts.
It’s also a windfall for Peter Thiel, whose company Palantir is already profiting off the bill’s provisions with hundreds of millions in contracts secured just this year.
Palantir’s software is being embedded across the federal government. And its contracts started ballooning just as Vance ascended to the vice presidency. The company’s work—compiling personal data across agencies—presents a grave threat to civil liberties and democratic oversight.
This reeks of corruption and the American people deserve to know the truth. Tell the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate how much Thiel and Palantir are profiting from Vance’s vote on the Big Ugly Bill.
Thiel once said, “I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible.” Now his firm is building a database on every American, with our tax dollars.[2]
Palantir’s federal contracts are surging, its surveillance software is being embedded in multiple agencies, and its leadership is actively lobbying for more. This is the machinery of oligarchy, operating in broad daylight.[3]
With Vance’s tie-breaking vote, Thiel and Palantir are both likely to benefit greatly. We need to know what deals were made, who stood to gain, and how this happened in the world’s oldest democracy.
Tell the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate how much billionaire puppetmaster Peter Thiel and his surveillance empire Palantir stand to gain from the Big Ugly Bill.
Together, we can break the billionaire grip on our government and make it serve the people, not Peter Thiel’s profit margins.
John Foti
Legislative Director
Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund
[1] Peter Thiel and JD Vance: How PayPal founder boosted VP candidate's political career
[2] The Anti-Democratic Worldview of Steve Bannon and Peter Thiel
[3] Trump Taps Palantir to Compile Data on Americans
-- David's email --
John,
Peter Thiel has said he no longer believes freedom and democracy are compatible.[1] So naturally, he built a billionaire-run surveillance state, funded by your tax dollars.
He started by bankrolling JD Vance’s political rise, dropping a record $15 million into Vance’s Senate campaign and shepherding him into Trump’s inner circle.[2] Now, Vance has paid him back by casting the tie-breaking vote for Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, which happens to be a goldmine for Thiel and his surveillance firm Palantir.
The bill funnels billions into the Pentagon and surveillance spending while slashing vital programs like SNAP and Medicaid. Palantir, already flush with over $113 million in federal contracts just since Trump took office in January, continues to consolidate power and lucrative deals.[3] Its CEO is meeting with federal agencies about expanding Palantir’s reach even further into our government. The legislation Vance green-lit turbocharges this money pipeline, with Thiel a principal beneficiary.
This is private profit-taking on public business, and it stinks of corruption. The U.S. Senate Ethics Committee must investigate just how much Thiel and Palantir stand to gain from this legislation, and what kind of backroom deals made it happen.
Call on the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate how much Peter Thiel and Palantir will financially benefit from JD Vance’s tie-breaking vote on the Big Ugly Bill.
Let’s be clear, this is a billionaire payout. Palantir profits directly from the bill’s expansion of surveillance infrastructure. And Peter Thiel, who still owns a significant stake in the company, has now parlayed his campaign contributions into a taxpayer-funded cash cow.
There are deep questions here that demand answers: Did Vance or his office communicate with Palantir or Thiel before the vote? Were these contracts discussed in advance? What’s the projected value of Palantir’s windfall under this bill? And how much will Thiel personally pocket from these public funds?
The ethics rules exist for a reason. And if this isn't a textbook case of political corruption tied to campaign money, then what is?
We need to know about any coordination between Thiel, Palantir executives, and Vance’s office leading up to the vote. Demand a full investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee now.
Let’s expose the corruption, follow the money, and demand accountability before billionaires rewrite our democracy behind closed doors.
David Kass
Executive Director
Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund
[1] The Anti-Democratic Worldview of Steve Bannon and Peter Thiel
[2] Peter Thiel and JD Vance: How PayPal founder boosted VP candidate's political career
[3] Trump Taps Palantir to Compile Data on Americans
