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Tesla CEO Elon Musk has returned to an official advisory role in President Donald Trump’s government by co-leading a Pentagon study on future warfare.
The initiative, called Project Meridian, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Hegseth said the project will study how warfare could change as technology advances. “Project Meridian” will bring together private-sector leaders, technologists, academics and policy experts.
Musk will co-lead the project with Palmer Luckey, co-founder of defence technology company Anduril Industries, and former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Hegseth described the project as “an effort led by America’s best minds to study the future of warfare.” He said the Pentagon would draw on “our innovators, our senior leaders and our technologists” to prepare for future conflicts.
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The project will examine emerging technologies and new areas of warfare. These include artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, robotics, directed energy and biotechnology. Hegseth said the project would also identify the weapons and technologies needed for future battlefields. He directed the team to complete its findings within 120 days.
The project is expected to produce recommendations on the capabilities the US military may need in future conflicts. Musk previously served as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE. He led the initiative during Trump’s second term and spearheaded sweeping cuts across the US national government.
Musk left the role in May 2025 after a public fallout with Trump. The two later reconciled, and Musk has since returned to regular contact with the White House. Musk was recently seated beside Trump at a White House lunch with artificial intelligence executives. He also attended Trump’s state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Musk has also resumed donations to Republican candidates and conservative political groups. He spent more than $250 million supporting Trump and other Republican candidates during the 2024 election.
According to National Election Commission filings, Musk has since given at least $90 million towards the 2026 midterm elections. Musk’s companies already have major business ties with the Pentagon.
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SpaceX provides satellite services linked to US national security missions. His artificial intelligence company, xAI, has also secured a deal allowing the US military to use its Grok chatbot on classified systems.
Anduril, led by fellow Project Meridian co-leader Palmer Luckey, also holds defence contracts with the US government. Hegseth said Project Meridian will “identify the domains that we must conquer and capabilities we must master.”
The project marks Musk’s first formal government advisory role since leaving DOGE. It also brings him back into the Trump administration’s orbit more than a year after their public dispute.
