Musk holds a “top-secret” clearance.
Some SpaceX employees have a higher-level clearance.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is widely regarded as one of the most influential and powerful figures in the business world. In fact, Fortune ranks him at the top of a list that also includes Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett.
Musk has an impressive ability to grow his wealth and pursue personal interests, such as acquiring Twitter (now known as X). However, his fortune and influence aren’t without challenges. He’s currently facing difficulties in receiving a significant Tesla pay package. Additionally, according to The Wall Street Journal, Musk isn’t allowed to attend some meetings at SpaceX.
Musk Has Limited Access to Classified Information Managed by SpaceX
It’s definitely surprising that the CEO of a company would experience restricted access to certain information. However, this appears to be the case with Musk and SpaceX.
SpaceX has developed a close partnership with the U.S. government, conducting missions to launch secret payloads into orbit and working on the Starshield spy satellite program. Due to this collaboration, SpaceX handles top-secret information critical to national security.
In this context, some SpaceX employees hold security clearances granted by the government that exceed Musk’s own. While Musk possesses a “top-secret” clearance, it limits his access to specific details about the classified programs SpaceX is involved in.
Hundreds of SpaceX employees hold what’s known as “sensitive compartmented information” clearances. They grant access to highly classified information that’s compartmentalized to prevent leaks to unauthorized individuals.
As such, Musk doesn’t have the highest security clearance, which means he can’t enter facilities where classified projects are being developed. The Wall Street Journal reports that Musk is typically unaware of the classified payloads being launched aboard his rockets.
In contrast, the CEOs of Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and their joint venture, United Launch Alliance, do have top-level security clearances. The government grants these clearances through a stringent approval process, so this is why Musk isn’t included in this group.
During this process, applicants are required to answer questions about very personal information. One reason Musk hasn’t obtained a top-level security clearance is to avoid scrutiny related to his contacts with foreign nationals and potential issues surrounding the use of illicit substances.
However, this situation could change significantly next year. Musk has positioned himself as one of President-elect Donald Trump’s main allies. He’ll also be involved in the Department of Government Efficiency initiative, which aims to regulate federal spending. Trump may offer him a higher level of security clearance, potentially bypassing the traditional approval process.
Image | NASA Kennedy | Glenn Beltz
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