Elon Musk And SpaceX Face Federal Investigations Regarding National Security

JAKARTA Elon Musk and his company, SpaceX, are currently facing at least three federal investigations regarding their compliance with federal reporting rules designed to protect national security, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, December 17.

The investigation is led by the Air Force, the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, and the Deputy Minister of Defense for Intelligence and Security. The report cites eight sources with knowledge regarding SpaceX and internal documents.

According to reports, SpaceX allegedly did not comply with several federal reporting protocols, including not providing details on Musk's meeting with foreign national leaders. This raises concerns about potential violations involving state secrets data.

The Air Force recently also declined to provide Musk with high-level security access, citing potential security risks. In addition, allies such as Israel are reportedly concerned about Musk's possibility of sharing sensitive data.

This isn't the first time Musk has faced questions about security practices. In 2018, the incident in which Musk smoked marijuana during a live interview with comedian Joe Rogan sparked a review of his security clearance by the Pentagon.

Two US Democratic senators, Jeanne Shaheen and Jack Reed, recently asked the Pentagon and law enforcement agencies to investigate reports that Musk had held several phone calls with Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin.

When asked by reporters, SpaceX's President and COO, Gwynne Shotwell, declined to comment on the ongoing security clearance and investigation. Musk himself has not yet responded.

The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense stated that, as a policy, they cannot "confirm or deny any ongoing investigation," to protect the confidentiality of the parties involved and the integrity of the investigation process.

This investigation is in the spotlight because Musk is the central figure in various strategic SpaceX projects involving national interests, including the development of space technology and satellite communications.