LaffyDec 17, 2024

Do tell...
🧵 1...

Via ‪Ryan Mac ‬ ‪@rmac.bsky.social‬:

Big scoop from
@kirstengrind.bsky.social
,
@ericlipton.nytimes.com
and
@sheeraf.bsky.social
There are at least 3 federal reviews into Elon #Musk for failing to report the details of his foreign relations as required by his security clearance

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/17/technology/elon-musk-spacex-national-security-reporting.html

Elon Musk and SpaceX Face Federal Reviews After Violations of Security Reporting Rules

Federal agencies have opened at least three reviews into whether the company and its leader complied with disclosure protocols intended to protect state secrets, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The New York Times
Show threadLaffyDec 17, 2024
2/ "Elon Musk and his rocket company, SpaceX, have repeatedly failed to comply with federal reporting protocols aimed at protecting state secrets, including by not providing some details of his meetings with foreign leaders, according to people with knowledge of the company and internal documents"
Show threadLaffyDec 17, 2024

3/ "Defense Dept’s Office of Inspector General opened a review into the matter this year, and the Air Force and the Pentagon’s Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security separately initiated reviews last month.

The Air Force also recently denied Mr. Musk a high-level security access, citing potential security risks associated with the billionaire. Several allied nations, including Israel, have also expressed concerns that he could share sensitive data with others"

Show threadLaffyDec 17, 2024
4/ "Internally, SpaceX has a team that is expected to ensure compliance with the government’s national security rules. Some of those employees have complained to the Defense Department’s Office of Inspector General and other agencies about the lax reporting, which goes back to at least 2021, four people with knowledge of the company said. SpaceX was awarded at least $10 billion in federal contracts with the Pentagon and NASA from 2019 to 2023, making it a major contractor."
Show threadLaffyDec 17, 2024
5/ "Some SpaceX workers have become concerned about Mr. Musk’s ability to handle sensitive information, especially as he posts openly on X about everything from video games to diplomatic meetings, the people said. The fears have been compounded because Mr. Musk has a top secret security clearance at SpaceX, which makes him privy to classified material such as advanced U.S. military technology."
Show threadLaffyDec 17, 2024

6/ (Not under Trump's rules)

"Under security clearance rules, Mr. Musk must report information about his private life and foreign travel, among other details, to the Defense Department as part of a process known as “continuous vetting.” That allows the government to evaluate whether someone with a high-level security clearance should continue handling sensitive information."

Show threadLaffyDec 17, 2024
7/ "But since at least 2021, Mr. Musk and SpaceX have not adhered to those reporting requirements, the people with knowledge of SpaceX said. He and his team have not provided some details of his travel — such as his full itineraries — and some of his meetings with foreign leaders, they said. 👉🏼He has also not reported his use of drugs, which is required even with a prescription, they said."
Show threadLaffyDec 17, 2024
8/ "Whether the federal reviews will affect Mr. Musk or SpaceX is unclear. Some of the SpaceX employees who complained about the privately held company’s reporting practices have been fired or forced out, the people with knowledge of the rocket maker said. Two defense officials said senior Pentagon leaders had given directives to avoid discussing the matter so they would not become targets of Mr. Musk, who has promised to cut government workers and budgets in his new role in Washington."
Show threadsOlOw-NH
@GottaLaff The irony is that this is the kind of swamp that #tffg kept saying should be drained. We are a nation made up of suckers and the billionaires who control them
Dec 17, 2024 at 9:40pmWeb
Show threadLaffyDec 17, 2024
@solownh Oh, absolutely