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The Pentagon is now investigating recent unauthorized leaks following a controversial report that claimed Elon Musk was going to receive a classified briefing on the United States war plans related to China, which the Pentagon has denied.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, last week The New York Times published a report claiming that Elon Musk was scheduled to receive a high-level Pentagon briefing on potential US military plans in the event of a war with China. The article, citing multiple anonymous senior officials, alleged the meeting would cover operational war strategies—including potential Chinese targets and strategic decisions—raising immediate concerns about national security and Musk’s role in defense matters. In response, Pentagon officials confirmed that a meeting between Musk and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would take place the following day but denied that any war planning or China-related discussions would be involved. President Trump dismissed the report as “ridiculous” and “fake,” accusing The New York Times of being “garbage.” He also said that Musk was there “for DOGE, not there for China.” However, a conflicting report from the Pentagon’s own internal news outlet claimed that the conversation had nothing to do with DOGE and instead centered on topics like innovation and efficiency.
What’s going on now: Over the weekend, the Pentagon issued a memo signaling the launch of a formal investigation into recent unauthorized disclosures of sensitive national security information. The memo, sent by Joe Kasper, chief of staff to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, called for immediate action to address what the department described as serious breaches involving communications within the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD).
The memo said, “Recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information involving sensitive communications with principals within the Office of the Secretary of Defense demand immediate and thorough investigation.”
The document also outlined the steps the Pentagon intends to take in response to the leaks, including coordination with various intelligence and law enforcement bodies. Kasper specifically requested assistance from the Director for Defense Intelligence, noting the investigation should be conducted “in coordination with the appropriate Department of Defense (DoD) stakeholders, including those responsible for maintaining and overseeing information security systems, and in coordination with federal partners as required.”
Kasper’s memo indicated that polygraphs would also be used “in accordance with applicable law and policy.”
