Two senior Democratic senators have called for a federal investigation into reports of Elon Musk’s communications with Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin. In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Pentagon’s inspector general, the senators raised concerns over Musk’s potential national security risks, given his company’s extensive government contracts.
Musk, who serves as CEO of SpaceX, oversees billions of dollars in Pentagon and intelligence community contracts, including agreements for defense satellites and the Starlink internet system relied upon by Ukraine’s military. According to Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Jack Reed, Musk’s interactions with Russian officials should be scrutinized for potential debarment or exclusion from sensitive contracts.
The senators’ letter emphasized the risks posed by Musk’s relationships with Russian officials. “These relationships between a known U.S. adversary and Mr. Musk, a beneficiary of billions of dollars in U.S. government funding, raise serious questions about his reliability as a government contractor and clearance holder,” they wrote.
Reports of Musk’s alleged conversations with Russian officials first emerged in 2022, when political analyst Ian Bremmer claimed Musk had spoken to Putin about the Ukraine war. Musk denied these claims, stating that his discussions with Putin were limited to space-related topics 18 months earlier. More recently, The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk had multiple conversations with senior Russian officials, including Putin’s deputy chief of staff, Sergei Kiriyenko.
SpaceX plays a critical role in U.S. space infrastructure, providing services to NASA and the Pentagon. Its Starlink satellite network, with nearly 7,000 satellites, has become essential for military communications, particularly in Ukraine. However, lawmakers argue that Musk’s alleged ties to Russia could undermine trust in SpaceX’s outsized role in U.S. defense operations.
The senators also sent a letter to U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, advocating for increased competition in the satellite communications and space launch industries. They urged the Pentagon to diversify its partnerships beyond SpaceX, citing Musk’s reported behavior as a potential national security risk.
The call for a federal investigation highlights growing concerns over Elon Musk’s influence and potential vulnerabilities in U.S. defense operations. As SpaceX continues to dominate the U.S. space industry, lawmakers are pushing for stricter oversight and reduced reliance on a single contractor to safeguard national security.
