The Pentagon launched an investigation incorporating polygraphic tests to track down leaks after Elon Musk called for the pursuit of any manager of the Ministry of Defense spreading “mischievous information” on his relations with the army.
In response to accusations surrounding the recentPentagon visitJoe Kasper, the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, Joe Kasper, called for an investigation into “unauthorized disclosure” information on national security with those responsible for “being referred to the appropriate entity of the application of criminal law for criminal prosecution”.
Musk, the richest man in the world with billions of dollars in defense contracts, visited the Pentagon on Friday for a conversation on cost reduction and innovation. The visit triggered the controversy before it started after the New York Times reported that Musk had to obtain a briefing top secret on American army planning for any potential war with China.
Times, which has cited several unidentified American officials familiar with the issue, said Musk should see sensitive American military strategies for China, potentially exposing the critical secrets of the Pentagon given the substantial commercial interests of Musk. Musk’s opinions on China have also aroused concern. He called Taiwan “an integral part of China” and suggested once the Auto-Strict Island becomes an administrative area of the country.
President Donald Trump and Defense HegSeth, both denied that there were plans for Musk to obtain a high -level briefing. On Friday, in the oval office, Trump recognized Musk’s potential conflict when he explained why he would never give him such a briefing.
Intensifying more meticulous examination, Musk took XA social media platform he has, insisting on the pursuit of Pentagon officials who disclose misleading information in the media.
Hegseth was one of the most vocal champions in the Musk government’s efficiency department, with hundreds of millions of dollars in discounts of spending carried out in collaboration with Doge employees.
The investigation into leaks “will start immediately and end in a report to the Secretary of Defense,” Kasper wrote in anotepublished at the end of March 21. “The report will include a complete file of unauthorized disclosure within the Ministry of Defense and recommendations aimed at improving these efforts.”
This story was initially presented on Fortune.com
