Musk could build part of $500bn US Golden Dome

Democrats demand investigation into conflict of interest

- JOE SOMMERLAD

A group of 42 Democrats has written to the Pentagon’s inspector general demanding an investigation after it was reported that Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, could win a lucrative contract to help build US president Donald Trump’s new “Golden Dome” anti-missile defence system.

Senators Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker and Tammy Duckworth have responded by expressing their concerns in a letter to General Steven A Stebbins, demanding transparency about the bidding process.

“Mr Musk’s formal or informal participation in any process to award a government contract raises serious conflict of interest concerns, including the possibility that SpaceX is a top contender for the Golden Dome contract because of Mr Musk’s position in the government,” they wrote.

The project, inspired by Israel’s “Iron Dome”, was announced by President Trump and defence secretary Pete Hegseth at the White House on Tuesday. The president promised it would be “fully operational” before he leaves office in January 2029 and capable of intercepting rockets, “even if they are launched from space”.