Summary

Elon Musk is unlikely to receive the highest-level government security clearance due to concerns over drug use, foreign contacts, and potential risks of disclosing classified information, according to Wall Street Journal reports.

Musk, who holds “top-secret” clearance, has faced scrutiny for past drug use, including marijuana and alleged ketamine use, and reported contacts with Vladimir Putin since 2022.

SpaceX lawyers advised against seeking higher clearance, fearing denial and revocation of existing clearances.

While Musk may bypass traditional clearance under Trump’s incoming administration, he currently lacks access to SpaceX’s most classified projects.

  • boaratio@lemmy.world
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    9 days ago

    I had a friend, at my first job out of college, have his “sensitive” security clearance denied after a full year of background checks because during his polygraph he admitted to trying cocaine when he was in college. That’s the lowest level of security clearance, and yet musk somehow has a clearance near the top.

  • treadful@lemmy.zip
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    9 days ago

    Musk, who holds “top-secret” clearance, has faced scrutiny for past drug use, including marijuana and alleged ketamine use, and reported contacts with Vladimir Putin since 2022.

    That escalated quickly.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    9 days ago

    Is it unlikely or will he not get it?

    Anyway, whatever level of security clearance he gets, he’ll invariably blab out some secret on Twitter while making one of his “hilarious” jokes during a ketamine binge.

    • DreamlandLividity@lemmy.world
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      9 days ago

      If I am not mistaken, the President has a lot of authority over security clearances. So for the next 4 years, just like with many other things, it will depend on how a certain Orange feels that day.

    • ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca
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      9 days ago

      Trump already gave military secrets out on twitter during his last presidency

      It’s not as low of a bar as you think

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      9 days ago

      Not that he should, but I would bet that’s less unusual than you would think. I imagine a lot of defence contractor CEOs are not given the clearance to access certain pieces of information that those working on the project have because some things need to be kept need-to-know.