Hegseth Wanted Musk To Get Classified China Intel

CNN reports:

In another example of the disorderly nature of the front office, at one point in March, Hegseth directly asked the director of DoD’s special access programs – which are among the most highly classified programs within the DoD – to read Elon Musk into more than two dozen programs having to do with China, according to multiple people familiar with the episode.

But Hegseth did not first run the idea through a policy process that included lawyers, the people said, and ultimately, DoD ethics lawyers in the Standards of Conduct office said it would not be appropriate. The idea died. The people familiar with the matter said it might have succeeded if a more standard policy process had been followed.

Read the full article.

New detail from our story tonight on how Hegseth last month asked for Elon Musk to be read in on more than two dozen special access programs related to China, prompting pushback from DoD ethics lawyers. https://t.co/S0KnJNvSfo pic.twitter.com/Y4E1nbEfgH

— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) April 23, 2025