Democrats urge probe into Musk's Golden Dome defense role
Forty-two Democratic Party congressmen are calling for an investigation into the involvement of billionaire Elon Musk in the early stages of constructing the Golden Dome missile defense shield, according to a Reuters report.
In a letter to the acting inspector general of the Department of Defense, the group, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congressman Greg Casar, requested an investigation into the initial phases of the procurement process, expressing concerns about the involvement of Musk's company, SpaceX.
They demand investigation into Elon Musk's role in the Golden Dome matter
Earlier, Reuters reported that SpaceX, along with companies Palantir and Anduril, are seen as leaders in the race for the contract concerning a key part of the shield project. The agency also highlighted Musk's close ties with former President Donald Trump's administration, noting that the world's richest man donated over $250 million to the Republican candidate's successful campaign.
The signatories described the situation as "a very troubling report," stressing that these circumstances raise questions about whether "defense ccontracts to build a Golden Dome are an effective way to protect Americans or are meant to enrich Mr. Musk and other elites." They also expressed concerns about the "subscription service" proposed by SpaceX, which could potentially circumvent traditional Pentagon procurement rules and limit government oversight of the project's development and pricing.
"A subscription model would also give Mr. Musk unacceptable ongoing leverage over United States national security," they stated.
If the inspector general finds that Musk was involved in giving SpaceX an unfair advantage, the authors of the letter want those findings forwarded to the Department of Justice for a criminal investigation. So far, neither the Pentagon nor SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril have commented on the report.
The agency pointed out that the decision-making process concerning the dome is still at an early stage. It also noted that some military experts question the assumptions and potential effectiveness of the shield. Nevertheless, over 180 companies have expressed interest in working on the dome, including traditional defense suppliers such as Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin.
Musk a problem for Tesla
This is not the end of the billionaire's issues.
Reports suggested that Tesla was beginning the search for a new CEO. The board's decision was reportedly due to the company's poor financial performance and controversies surrounding Elon Musk, as reported by CNBC.
Additionally, citing "The Wall Street Journal," the report stated that the company's board had reached out to several recruiting firms to find a successor to Musk.
Tesla's Chairwoman, Robyn Denholm, denied these reports.
"The CEO of Tesla is Elon Musk and the Board is highly confident in his ability to continue executing on the exciting growth plan ahead," stated the company's official announcement.
