Washington: US billionaire Elon Musk and his company, SpaceX, have come under scrutiny of US government agencies due to the entrepreneur’s alleged secrecy violations, people with knowledge of the matter have told The New York Times.
Federal agencies, including the Defence Department’s Office of Inspector General, the Air Force, and the Pentagon’s Office of the Under Secretary of Defence for Intelligence and Security, have launched at least three reviews into the company and its owner repeatedly failing to comply with federal reporting protocols aimed at protecting state secrets, including not disclosing details of meeting foreign leaders, the people said.
Some SpaceX employees reportedly warned the Defence Department of lax internal reporting within the enterprise that is expected to comply with the government’s national security rules. The people also tell the newspaper that the staff for years has been unwillingly allowing Musk ignore reporting procedures over the fears of losing work.
The concerns about Musk handling secret information are reportedly aggravated by his activity on X, and him having access to top secret files, including those on newest US defence technologies.
Earlier in the week, the Wall Street Journal reported that SpaceX lawyers have advised its senior executives to abandon seeking a higher security clearance for its founder, which would provide access to sensitive programs involving the aerospace company, because of the billionaire’s alleged contacts with foreign nationals and drug use.
US President-elect Donald Trump previously announced that Musk and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE). After entering the Oval Office on January 20, Trump will have the power to grant Musk and others working for DOGE broad access to classified information as they search for cuts.
Musk previously said that the newly created department aims to raise the efficiency of US defence spending.
