The Pentagon has appointed tech billionaires Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey to advisory roles in a new defense initiative focused on the future of warfare, sparking concerns over potential conflicts of interest. Both individuals are major donors to a prominent political campaign and own companies that stand to gain from federal defense contracts. The project, led by a former Uber executive with ties to Musk’s AI ventures, has drawn scrutiny over past financial entanglements involving Pentagon officials. Critics question whether private interests could influence high-stakes military strategy decisions.
Installing tech billionaires Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey to Pentagon defense board raises conflict of interest concernsBy installing the tech billionaires Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey to advisory roles in a Pentagon project about the future of warfare, the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, bestowed extraordinary influence on two of Maga’s most significant campaign donors – and both men own companies that benefit from federal defense contracting.The new project, which Hegseth dubbed “Project Meridian” in an event in Quantico, Virginia, on Wednesday, will be led by Pentagon official Emil Michael, a former Uber executive. As the Guardian has reported, Michael made millions in profits off non-public Musk company AI stock while in federal office – and while guiding the Department of Defense’s artificial intelligence efforts. Continue reading...
