Not even Elon Musk knows exactly what is on the U.S. spy satellite rockets his company blasts into space.
SpaceX executives decided their founder and chief executive shouldn’t apply for the highest-level security clearance after lawyers warned his alleged drug use and regular contact with foreign governments could create problems for the company’s defense contracts, The Wall Street Journal reported.
But even without the security clearance, Musk’s new friend Donald Trump could give him unfettered access to the nation’s secrets once the president-elect takes office in January.
Like government employees, defense contractors generally hold confidential, secret, or top-secret security clearance giving them access to certain classified information. Musk barely obtained top-secret level clearance in 2022.
But SpaceX’s Starshield program, which provides spy satellite hardware and services to intelligence agencies, generally requires even higher clearance. SpaceX has $5.32 billion in contracts with the Department of Defense, including a 2023 contract with the Pentagon worth $70 million.
The work is discussed and carried out in special classified facilities, which require even higher clearances for “sensitive compartmentalized information”—a reference to intelligence sources and techniques—and for “special access programs.”
Musk doesn’t hold either clearance. That means he can’t enter the classified Starshield facilities and can’t access certain information about SpaceX’s spy satellite program, including details about the spy cargo his rockets are carrying, according to The Wall Street Journal. His representatives didn’t respond to the paper’s request for comment.
Sources told the paper that SpaceX’s lawyers and executives debated last year whether to apply for a higher security clearance for Musk, but they were worried his application would be derailed by his contact with foreign leaders—and by alleged drug use.
Musk has used LSD, cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, the Journal reported. His lawyer told the paper its reporting contained “false facts,” though he didn’t specify which part was wrong. Musk himself seemed to confirm he’s used ketamine, writing on his social media platform X that ketamine was better than SSRIs for treating depression.
“I have a prescription for when my brain chemistry sometimes goes super negative,” he wrote.
In October, reports also emerged that Musk has been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin since 2022.
All of this would have made it difficult to upgrade Musk’s security clearance; a request could have even led to his access being downgraded, SpaceX’s lawyers reportedly warned. A top manager’s failed security application could have then forced the company to create extra layers of security and seek special government waivers.
But now, SpaceX has been scouting locations for a secure facility where Musk can review highly classified information, the Journal reported.
After donating more than $250 million to get Trump re-elected, the incoming president named Musk an outside government efficiency adviser. Presidents have the power to waive security requirements and give individuals access to national security secrets.
So Musk could very well end up parsing classified information as he decides which programs to recommend for the chopping block.
The Daily Beast has reached out for comment from Musk and SpaceX.