Elon Musk returns to Trump administration to co-lead Pentagon war study
Elon Musk has officially rejoined the US government as an adviser, co-leading a new Pentagon initiative studying the future of warfare alongside two other appointees. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the project at Quantico.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new initiative called "Project Meridian" during a speech at the Quantico military base on Wednesday, aimed at studying the future of warfare. Tech billionaire Elon Musk has been named one of three co-leaders of the project, marking his official return as an adviser to the US government.
Musk previously headed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), overseeing extensive job cuts across the federal government, before leaving that role in May 2025. Joining him as co-leaders of Project Meridian are Palmer Luckey, co-founder of defense technology firm Anduril Industries, and Newt Gingrich, the former Republican Speaker of the House.
Hegseth said the effort would draw on a unique American advantage that adversaries lack — the country's innovators, senior leaders and technologists. He described the goal as creatively identifying the future domains the US must master. The project's findings are due within 120 days, with participants drawn from hand-picked private sector leaders and experts across innovation, academia and policy.
Deep ties to the Pentagon
Musk's companies are already significant Pentagon contractors. SpaceX is building satellite networks for Trump's planned "Golden Dome" missile defense shield, while his AI company xAI signed a deal this year allowing the military to use its Grok chatbot on classified systems.
Musk backed Trump's 2024 campaign but later clashed publicly with him over spending legislation. The relationship has since recovered — Musk has been a regular presence at the White House, attended a lunch with AI executives alongside Trump, signed a voluntary AI safety accord, and was present at a state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as traveling to Beijing in May as part of Trump's delegation.
Musk has also resumed major political donations, giving at least $90 million toward November's midterm elections according to Federal Election Commission filings, after spending more than $250 million backing Trump and other Republicans in 2024.
