The past two decades have seen Elon Musk’s meteoric rise from a Silicon Valley entrepreneur to one of the most influential individuals in the world. His influence extends far beyond the private sector, deeply penetrating government affairs, national infrastructure, and even global security. While his ventures, SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and Starlink have revolutionized their respective industries, they have also concentrated enormous power into the hands of a single man. And this was no accident.
Much of Musk’s ascension can be traced back to a pivotal policy shift during the Obama administration. In 2010, President Barack Obama made the fateful decision to cancel NASA’s Constellation Program and Space Shuttle Program and redirect funding toward commercial spaceflight. While this move was framed as a cost-cutting measure to encourage private-sector competition, in practice, it catapulted Musk’s SpaceX into an unparalleled position of influence. The resistance at the time from NASA veterans, Apollo astronauts, and even key policymakers was strong yet ultimately ignored. Those critics foresaw the dangers of ceding government control over space access to a private entity. They were right.
Musk’s Power Grab: A Case Study in Government Miscalculation
By handing over America’s spaceflight capabilities to commercial companies, Obama’s administration inadvertently created a situation where NASA, and by extension, the U.S. government, became deeply reliant on Musk’s empire. The result? A single individual now holds a monopoly over critical government functions, and his influence only continues to grow.
The consequences of this decision have not been confined to spaceflight. Musk has since expanded his influence into multiple governmental sectors. His Starlink satellite network, originally intended to provide global internet access, has been increasingly used for military applications and international conflicts, raising serious questions about whether a private individual should control global communications infrastructure. His acquisition of Twitter (now X) gave him an unchecked platform for political influence, while his close ties to world leaders, from the U.S. to China and Russia, further cement his role as a geopolitical actor.
What is Happening Now with DOGE
Musk’s influence over the U.S. government has become even more pronounced with the recent developments in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Originally established under the Trump administration, DOGE was intended to streamline bureaucratic inefficiencies, but it has now transformed into a mechanism for Musk to consolidate control over key government agencies. Reports indicate that Musk, through DOGE, has successfully pushed for the restructuring of federal departments, including proposed mergers of NASA centers, and even influencing budget allocations to favor private space initiatives over publicly funded programs. Additionally, his appointments within DOGE, often composed of young, inexperienced software engineers raise serious concerns about governance, oversight, and the erosion of institutional expertise. As critics have pointed out, this unchecked power grab further entrenches Musk’s ability to dictate national policy with little accountability.
The Global Security Implications
Musk’s growing power has profound consequences for global security. His control over Starlink, which has been used in conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, demonstrates the dangers of relying on a private actor for essential military and civilian communication infrastructure. His unilateral decisions, such as restricting Starlink access to Ukrainian forces at critical moments highlight the risks of allowing one individual to dictate security outcomes for sovereign nations. Furthermore, his relationships with foreign governments, including China, pose potential risks regarding technological transfers and strategic partnerships that may not align with U.S. national security interests. If Musk’s influence over defense-related technologies continues to grow unchecked, the potential for conflicts of interest, policy misalignments, and geopolitical instability will only increase.
The Obama Legacy: A Mistake We Cannot Ignore
While the Obama administration’s pivot toward commercial spaceflight was framed as a move toward efficiency and innovation, it ultimately handed one man an extraordinary level of control over the nation’s strategic assets. The decision to entrust Musk with NASA’s future was not just a mistake, it was a turning point that reshaped America’s relationship with private industry, weakening governmental authority over critical infrastructure.
Now, Musk’s influence extends far beyond what policymakers in 2010 could have imagined. His ability to dictate terms to the U.S. government, leverage his businesses for political advantage, and even interfere in global conflicts underscores the dangers of consolidating power into the hands of a single unelected individual. His controversial statements, including inflammatory political remarks and anti-Semitic rhetoric, further highlight the risks of allowing one person to amass unchecked authority over national interests.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Undoing the mistakes of the past decade will not be easy, but it is necessary. The U.S. government must take urgent action to rebalance power and reduce its dependence on Musk’s empire. Some key steps include: Reducing Government Reliance on Musk-Controlled Companies: Whether in space, defense, communications, or infrastructure, federal agencies must diversify their contracts and ensure that no single company has disproportionate control over national operations; Strengthening Regulatory Oversight: The influence Musk wields over agencies like NASA, the Treasury, and the Department of Defense must be re-evaluated. More stringent oversight is needed to ensure that private companies serve the public interest rather than the ambitions of their executives; Reining in Private Control of Public Infrastructure: Critical assets such as Starlink and U.S. space access should be subject to stricter government oversight to prevent them from being leveraged for personal or political gain; Addressing the Role of Billionaires in Government: Musk’s rise is symptomatic of a larger issue: the increasing role of ultra-wealthy individuals in policymaking. Guardrails must be established to prevent such figures from exerting disproportionate influence over governance.
Final Thoughts
The unchecked rise of Elon Musk is not just a business success story, it is a cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of government policy. The Obama administration’s decision to prioritize commercial spaceflight, while well-intentioned, ultimately enabled one man to amass an unprecedented level of power.
As we move forward, we must ask ourselves: Are we prepared to continue down this path, or is it time to correct course? The answer to this question will determine whether we restore balance to governance or allow private interests to dictate the future of national and global affairs.
References
Miltimore, Jon. “Does Obama Deserve Credit for Elon Musk’s Spacex Triumph? Yes and No.” Foundation for Economic Education, February 6, 2024. https://fee.org/articles/does-obama-deserve-credit-for-elon-musk-s-spacex-triumph-yes-and-no/.
Mosila, Andreea I. “The Political Dimension of Space Exploration.” Space Education & Strategic Applications 4, no. 1 (2023). https://doi.org/10.18278/001c.75419.
Narea, Nicole. “Elon Musk’s Secretive Government It Takeover, Explained.” Vox, February 5, 2025. https://www.vox.com/politics/398366/musk-doge-treasury-sba-opm-budget.
Pultarova, Tereza. “Starlink Satellites: Facts, Tracking and Impact on Astronomy.” Space.com, April 14, 2022. https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellites.html.