Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, may not be granted top security clearances, despite the fact that approximately 400 employees at his rocket company have already obtained such permissions.
According to the Wall Street Journal, SpaceX lawyers cautioned executives against seeking higher security clearances for the unpredictable CEO. Doing so would require him to reveal details about his interactions with foreign nationals, including Russian president Vladimir Putin, as well as address the persistent rumors about his alleged drug use.
According to sources, Musk currently possesses a “top secret” security clearance that grants him access to “some national security secrets.” However, he does not have the full clearance required by staff who work on classified programs, as reported by the WSJ.
Elon Musk’s security clearance, which he currently possesses, was a lengthy process to obtain. It is well known that Musk had smoked weed with Joe Rogan in 2018, a fact that garnered significant attention. Additionally, the use of ketamine by Musk has been a subject of debate in the media, and SpaceX lawyers are said to be considering this matter.
The lawyers express concern that Musk may jeopardize his existing “top secret” clearance by pursuing an even higher security clearance.
But with his recent appointment as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by president-elect Donald Trump, these concerns may become irrelevant. Now that Musk holds a prominent position within the incoming administration, the wealthiest individual in the world will likely find it much easier to obtain access to highly classified information.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, is reportedly unable to access certain information about his company’s spy satellite program, Starshield. This is because he does not have the necessary permissions for “sensitive compartmented information” that several hundred SpaceX employees possess. Furthermore, Musk is not even allowed to enter most facilities where work related to the program is being conducted.
Earlier this year, an article by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) alleged that Musk had a significant involvement with psychoactive substances, such as LSD and psychedelic mushrooms. However, Musk’s lawyer later refuted the claims, stating that he had never tested positive for drug use during his time at SpaceX.
It is uncertain whether Musk will be required to complete a comprehensive questionnaire and reveal his past drug use, along with his extensive interactions with individuals from other countries. Given his close relationship with the US president, Musk might soon enjoy unrestricted access to highly confidential details, without any further bureaucratic obstacles.
In addition, since they are now responsible for DOGE, both he and pharma executive Vivek Ramaswamy will probably have to carefully examine confidential information. They have already made a commitment to reduce the Pentagon’s expenditures in the upcoming years.
More on Musk: The Trump Administration is planning to drop the requirement for Tesla to report self-driving crashes.
