Pentagon Task Force Led by Musk, Luckey Faces Ethics Scrutiny
The Department of Defense has launched a 120-day study on future warfare technologies, placing two major defense contractors at the helm and triggering immediate concerns about conflicts of interest. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced “Project Meridian” last week, tasking Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey with leading an examination of automated weaponry and artificial intelligence.
Hegseth issued a one-page memo on September 30 directing Emil Michael, the Pentagon’s chief technology officer, to commission the study through the MITRE Corporation. The nonprofit organization manages federally funded research centers. A Defense Department spokesperson stated that MITRE would evaluate inputs with technical rigor and conflict-of-interest safeguards.
The project examines technologies over a 10- to 20-year horizon, including artificial intelligence, autonomy, directed energy, robotics, and biotechnology. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich joins Musk and Luckey as a leader of the initiative.
Critics point to the substantial financial ties between the project leaders and the federal government. SpaceX, led by Musk, secured more than $8 billion in U.S. defense contracts in 2026. The company operates Starshield, a military-grade satellite network, and provides Grok, an AI chatbot used by the Pentagon.
Luckey co-founded Anduril Industries, which builds military drones and other defense technologies. Peter Thiel provided initial funding for Anduril. President Trump was expected to speak at an Anduril facility in Baltimore on Tuesday.
“They all want to sell stuff,” said Richard Painter, a professor of corporate law at the University of Minnesota and former chief White House ethics lawyer during the George W. Bush administration.
Federal criminal law prohibits executive branch employees from participating in decisions that affect their financial interests. Contractors are not subject to this specific statute. The Defense Department did not disclose whether Musk and Luckey are serving as special government employees or contractors for Project Meridian.
Musk previously served as a special government employee leading the Department of Government Efficiency cost-cutting effort. The lack of clarity regarding his current status has drawn scrutiny from ethics experts.
“It’s a massive conflict of interest,” said a former senior Defense Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Department of Defense did not respond to questions about potential conflicts of interest or the specific roles Musk and Luckey will play in the study. SpaceX and Anduril also declined to comment on the project.
A senior official at the Government Accountability Office noted that while industry leaders are common participants on government task forces, their findings require careful scrutiny to ensure they serve the public interest rather than private gain.