Musk-led war commission alarms Pentagon
The gist
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized a four-month commission on future warfare led with Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey.
Pentagon officials warn it could steer billions in contracts to the executives' own firms.
How it unfolded
- Sep 30, 2026Hegseth authorizes "Project Meridian: The Future of Warfare" in a four-paragraph memo, asking Musk, Luckey and Gingrich to map the trajectory of future warfare and report back in four months.
- Oct 2, 2026Politico reports that Pentagon officials warn the plan will produce conflicts of interest that threaten the department's long-term integrity.
- recentlyThe group has already held two meetings at the Pentagon, at least one of which included Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Phil Hegseth, the defense secretary's younger brother, who serves as an adviser in the department.