A gaggle of 42 Democratic lawmakers needs the Pentagon’s watchdog to look into billionaire Elon Musk’s function within the contracting course of for the “Golden Dome” missile protection defend, a mission pushed by President Trump meant to guard the U.S. homeland from incoming missiles.
In a letter despatched to the Protection Division inspector normal on Thursday, the Home and Senate lawmakers requested for a evaluate into the Pentagon’s procurement course of for Golden Dome, citing considerations over whether or not contracts for the system are “meant to enrich Mr. Musk and other elites.”
The letter follows a Reuters report final week that discovered Musk’s firm SpaceX and its two companions, Palantir and Anduril, had been front-runners to win a significant contract in constructing out Golden Dome. All three corporations had been based by males who politically supported Trump in his bid for the White Home, with Musk donating greater than a quarter-billion {dollars} to the president’s marketing campaign and now serving as a particular adviser as he runs the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE).
“This is a deeply troubling report,” the lawmakers wrote. “All of this raises concerns about whether defense contracts to build a Golden Dome are an effective way to protect Americans or are meant to enrich Mr. Musk and other elites.”
Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), who together with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is main the group, revealed the letter in a put up on the social platform X.
“Trump wants to spend trillions on a ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense shield — and Musk’s SpaceX ‘just so happens’ to be the frontrunner for the contracts,” Casar wrote.
Trump in a Jan. 27 government order directed the Pentagon to develop a subsequent technology missile defend generally known as Golden Dome, a system consultants estimate may value trillions of {dollars} to develop and subject. The mission appears to construct a community of satellites and space-based sensors to detect, observe and destroy any superior missiles aimed on the U.S.
To leap-start Golden Dome, the GOP-led funds reconciliation invoice incorporates practically $25 billion for the mission, contracts from that are sought by Lockheed Martin, Boeing Co. and Northrop Grumman, along with SpaceX.
However the lawmakers mentioned they fear there’s a critical battle of curiosity with Musk and a attainable contract award to SpaceX given his place within the authorities whereas nonetheless remaining CEO on the firm.
“If Mr. Musk were to exercise improper influence over the Golden Dome contract, it would be another example of a disturbing pattern of Mr. Musk flouting conflict of interest rules,” they wrote, pointing to DOGE’s directed cuts to businesses that regulate Musk’s corporations and up to date House Pressure contracts awarded to SpaceX.
The group additionally mentioned it worries in regards to the potential for a “subscription service” in working Golden Dome, a technique proposed by SpaceX that might enable the agency to bypass conventional Pentagon procurement guidelines and curtail authorities management over how the system is developed and priced.
“A subscription model would also give Mr. Musk unacceptable ongoing leverage over United States national security,” in response to the letter.
Golden Dome continues to be within the very early levels, with Protection officers nonetheless working to ship choices to Trump consistent with his government order.
It’s unknown whether or not the division’s inspector normal will start an investigation into Golden Dome’s procurement course of, however ought to the watchdog discover Musk is utilizing his function within the federal authorities to acquire a contract for SpaceX, the lawmakers need them to refer any findings to the Justice Division for a felony investigation.
