MENG SOUNDS ALARM ON ELON MUSK AND DOGE’S ACCESS TO NASA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Top Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS), sent a letter to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Acting Administrator, Janet Petro, urging her to revoke Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) access to NASA headquarters.

Meng was alerted that Musk’s DOGE associates would be given unrestricted access to NASA’s personnel and contracting files, which is a major conflict of interest. Musk currently serves as CEO of SpaceX, which is NASA’s largest private contractor, receiving $2.3 billion from the agency in fiscal year 2023. Any access could provide SpaceX with insider information that would benefit the company at the expense of its competitors and American taxpayers.

In the letter, Meng wrote, “Since January 20, 2025, Mr. Musk has enjoyed nearly unfettered access to data across several government agencies and offices…Providing such access to Mr. Musk at NASA would create a blatant, multi-billion-dollar conflict of interest—exactly the kind of coziness between government and industry and corruption that my constituents fear happens in Washington. Moreover, providing special access to the owner of SpaceX would likely open NASA to expensive litigation, protests from others participating in competitive grants, or other actions that would force NASA to take finances and resources away from key missions and research.”

Meng serves as Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS), which oversees NASA. Each year the agency receives more than $20 billion in federal funding. NASA leads the study of Earth science, the solar system, and the larger universe, conducting cutting-edge research to advance science and technology and improve the lives of people all over the world.

“I strongly urge you to revoke any access to NASA headquarters for Mr. Musk and his staff,” the Congresswoman continued. “At the very least, I demand that your agency set clear and public ground rules so that you do not expose internal, deliberative, or proprietary information. I am sure we can agree that American taxpayers expect and deserve such protection.”

This week Meng also personally went to NASA headquarters to call on Acting Administrator Petro to protect confidential information and prevent any conflict of interest.

A copy of the letter can be viewed here.