By Marisa Taylor, Mike Stone
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A group of 42 Democratic lawmakers has called for a review of Elon Musk’s role in the bidding process for the "Golden Dome" missile defense shield, a project championed by President Donald Trump.
In a letter dated May 1 and sent to the acting US Defense Department Inspector General seen by Reuters, the group, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren and congressman Greg Casar, requested a probe into the origins of the procurement process, citing concerns over the involvement of Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
The lawmakers’ move comes after a Reuters report revealed that SpaceX, along with Palantir (NASDAQ:PLTR) and Anduril, had emerged as frontrunners to win a crucial part of the Golden Dome project, which aims to build a network of satellites to detect and track incoming missiles to the U.S. The report also highlighted the close ties between Musk and the Trump administration, with Musk serving as a special adviser to the president and donating over $250 million to help elect him.
"This is a deeply troubling report," the lawmakers wrote in their letter. "All of this raises concerns about whether defense contracts to build a Golden Dome are an effective way to protect Americans or are meant to enrich Mr. Musk and other elites."
If the inspector general finds Musk has played a role in his company gaining an edge in the process, the lawmakers requested the inspector general refer any findings to the Justice Department for a criminal investigation. The letter does not guarantee a review will be initiated.
The Pentagon’s Inspector General’s office said they had received the letter and were reviewing it.
The group of lawmakers also expressed concerns over the potential for a "subscription service" proposed by SpaceX, which could allow the company to skirt traditional Pentagon procurement protocols and limit government control over the system’s development and pricing.
"A subscription model would also give Mr. Musk unacceptable ongoing leverage over United States national security," they wrote.
SpaceX, where billionaire Musk is CEO, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter. It did not respond to questions about its role in Golden Dome in the original Reuters story. After publication, Musk replied to a post about it on his social network X without elaborating: "This is not true."
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter. In the original Reuters story, it said it will deliver "options to the President for his decision in line with the executive order and in alignment with White House guidance and timelines."
Palantir and Anduril did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Despite the Pentagon’s positive signals to the SpaceX group, some sources have stressed the decision process for Golden Dome is in its early stages. Its ultimate structure and who is selected to work on it could change dramatically in the coming months.
The Golden Dome project has been met with skepticism by some military experts, who question its feasibility and potential effectiveness.
The Pentagon has received interest from over 180 companies to develop and build the Golden Dome, with traditional defense contractors such as Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC), Boeing (NYSE:BA), and Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) also vying for a role in the project.
The timing of the lawmakers’ request is particularly significant, as last week Reuters reported that the Senate version of the upcoming reconciliation budget package earmarks $27 billion for the Golden Dome project, a significant investment that could pave the way for its implementation.
The lawmakers’ request for an inquiry follows concerns raised by other Democrats in Congress over Musk’s influence on federal contracts while serving in the White House. Senator Jeanne Shaheen has introduced legislation to prevent federal contracts from being issued to companies owned by special advisers like Musk.