WASHINGTON – Elon Musk and his company, SpaceX, are facing at least three federal investigations to check whether they followed important rules meant to protect national security. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that the reviews are being conducted by the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Defense’s inspector general, and the undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security.
The reason for these reviews is that SpaceX and Musk may not have shared the necessary information required by federal law. This information is important to protect the country’s secrets and ensure safety. The reports claim that Musk and SpaceX failed to provide details about some of Musk’s meetings with foreign leaders, which could potentially risk national security.
What Are the Investigations About?
These investigations began because of concerns that Musk’s actions might have put sensitive information at risk. For example, the Air Force recently denied Musk access to certain high-level security information, citing potential risks to national security. In addition, allies of the U.S., including Israel, have raised concerns that Musk might accidentally or intentionally share sensitive information with foreign governments.
One specific concern came after it was reported that Musk had spoken multiple times with Russian officials, including Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. Two U.S. senators, Jeanne Shaheen and Jack Reed, expressed their worries about these calls and asked the Pentagon and law enforcement to investigate whether Musk’s communications with Russian leaders could harm U.S. national security. They believe that these conversations should be looked into carefully.
What Has Been the Response?
The U.S. Air Force Secretary, Frank Kendall, responded to Senator Shaheen’s concerns, agreeing that there were valid worries but stating that he couldn’t comment on Musk’s current security clearance or the ongoing investigation.
These reviews are still ongoing, and the government is working to ensure that Musk and SpaceX follow the proper rules to keep sensitive information safe and secure. This situation shows the importance of protecting the country’s secrets, especially when dealing with high-level technologies like space exploration.
