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.
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.
How long ago was it? When I did mine, there was an established secondary process if you answered about drugs to explain the circumstances around your usage.
This happened to me almost 20 years ago. Answered truthfully about smoking weed. Instant denial.
Yep. The spooks are prudes about weed. No wonder we have a lack of talent in classified work.
