US senators call for probe of Musk’s SpaceX contracts over Russia

WASHINGTON – Two Democratic US senators called for an investigation into billionaire Elon Musk’s involvement in contracts between the US government and his company SpaceX, citing national security concerns raised by his reported contact with President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials. 

The senators asked the departments of Defence and Justice in a letter on Nov 15 to investigate if the alleged communications “should force a review of Musk’s continued involvement in SpaceX’s contracts” with the government. 

“These relationships between a well-known US adversary and Mr Musk, a beneficiary of billions of dollars in US government funding, pose serious questions regarding Mr Musk’s reliability as a government contractor and a clearance holder,” the letter says. 

The two senators who signed the letter are Mr Jack Reed of Rhode Island, who is also chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and Ms Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. 

“Communications between Russian government officials and any individual with a security clearance have the potential to put our security at risk,” they wrote.

Mr Musk’s role in the government, as well as access to sensitive information, is likely to expand when President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. Already he has emerged as a close ally and confident, joining Trump on calls with world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and being appointed to lead government cost-cutting efforts. 

Mr Musk and SpaceX did not immediately respond to an e-mailed request for comment.

The letter, as well as a separate request to the Secretary of the US Air Force, cited a Wall Street Journal report in October that Mr Musk has been in contact with Mr Putin and other Russian officials since 2022. Those in contact include deputy chief of staff Sergei Kiriyenko, who the US has accused of masterminding Moscow’s efforts to influence the 2024 presidential campaign. 

Mr Musk’s sometimes-erratic behaviour has complicated his deep relationships with the Pentagon, mainly through SpaceX’s work on satellite launches and through his Starlink satellite-based internet service, which has been crucial for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Despite those concerns, the US has sustained multiple contracts with his companies. 

The senators described SpaceX as “deeply integrated into our defence and intelligence space programming”.

They added that the company holds more than US$700 million (S$940 million) in contracts for Space Force’s National Security Space Launch programme, is building an exclusive satellite network for Space Force through its Starshield unit and has a US$1.8 billion classified contract with the National Reconnaissance Agency. 

“While commercial integration in space is key to our ability to innovate, it relies on contractors to exhibit responsible behaviour in dealing with some of our most sensitive capabilities,” they wrote. BLOOMBERG