Democratic senators have called for an inquiry into Elon Musk’s involvement in federal contracts related to SpaceX, following reports of his ongoing communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a letter sent on Friday, Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) expressed concerns that Musk’s alleged ties with a foreign adversary raise doubts about his reliability as a contractor and holder of government security clearances. Shaheen, a senior member of both the Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, joined Reed in urging action.
Pentagon concerns grow over Musk’s alleged ties to Russian officials
SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace company, holds multi-billion-dollar contracts with both the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. The senators highlighted that Musk is also a key contractor for the Space Force’s National Security Space program and has a $1.8 billion classified contract with the National Reconnaissance Office. The tech billionaire reportedly claims to possess a U.S. security clearance linked to these agreements.
This call for a review follows reports from The Wall Street Journal that Musk has been in regular contact with Putin since late 2022. The two are said to have discussed various topics, including personal matters, business, and geopolitical issues, sometimes involving other high-ranking Russian officials, including Sergei Kiriyenko, Putin’s first deputy chief of staff.
In one of their discussions, Putin allegedly urged Musk to refrain from activating Starlink’s satellite internet over Taiwan, supposedly to assist Chinese leader Xi Jinping, according to sources briefed on the matter.
The lawmakers underscored that space equipment plays a vital role in U.S. military and intelligence operations. They emphasized that Russia’s ambitions in space represent a direct threat to national security and raised concerns over the risks posed by communications between Russian officials and individuals with security clearances. This highlights the importance of reporting any foreign contacts, they wrote.
They referenced a Pentagon report from last May, which claimed that Russia had launched an antisatellite weapon. While Moscow’s Ministry of Defense admitted to the launch, it dismissed U.S. allegations as “fake news.”
The senators also referred to a recent Justice Department operation that led to the seizure of 32 internet domains used by Russian intelligence agents to steal information from Americans. Kiriyenko was reportedly involved in this effort.
In their letter, Reed and Shaheen urged the DOJ and Pentagon to investigate whether Musk’s interactions with Russian officials justify further inquiry and recommended that the Defense Department assess whether Musk should be excluded from current or future government contracts. Musk, a staunch ally of President-elect Trump, played a role during Trump’s campaign and spent time at Mar-a-Lago after the election.
The letter comes just days after Trump appointed Musk and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a “Department of Government Efficiency” panel, tasked with generating a report on reducing government costs and restructuring federal agencies.
As the head of this advisory group, Musk could find himself working with agencies that hold contracts with both SpaceX and his electric vehicle company, Tesla. Ethics experts have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to Musk’s dual roles.
However, experts also suggested that the panel’s ability to drive substantial change may be limited, given its advisory nature. Any budget reductions would require Congressional approval, and with Republicans holding narrow majorities in both the House and Senate, passing such measures could prove challenging.
