Hegseth puts the future of warfare in the hands of major Maga donors
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has appointed tech billionaires Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey to a Pentagon advisory board focused on the future of warfare. The move has raised concerns regarding conflicts of interest due to the appointees' significant campaign contributions and their companies' roles as federal defense contractors.
Why it matters
The intersection of private tech wealth and national defense policy raises significant ethical questions about government procurement and political influence.
The National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington DC on 18 September./Getty Images The National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington DC on 18 September./Getty Images Trump administration Hegseth puts the future of warfare in the hands of major Maga donors Installing tech billionaires Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey to Pentagon defense board raises conflict-of-interest concerns
Send us your questions about how the Iran war will affect US voters in the midterms
Prefer the Guardian on Google By 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.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in