Elon Musk is returning to official advisory work with the administration of US President Donald Trump: the entrepreneur will be one of the leaders of a Pentagon project to study the wars of the future, according to the website infohub.kz.
The launch of Project Meridian was announced by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. In addition to Musk, the project will be led by Palmer Luckey, founder of defense technology company Anduril Industries, and former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The group will study what technologies and weapons the US military will need in future conflicts.
"We are using a unique source of American advantage that our adversaries do not have: our innovators, leaders, and technology experts," said Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.
The project has 120 days to prepare its findings. According to The Washington Post, recommendations are to be presented to Hegseth by the end of January. Musk will participate in the project in a limited advisory role.
Musk previously took part in the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), focusing on cutting federal spending and the government workforce. He left the administration in May 2025.
In June, a public conflict erupted between the entrepreneur and the president. Musk criticized Trump's tax and spending bill, calling it a "disgusting abomination." In his view, the document increased the budget deficit and undermined efforts to save public funds. Trump responded by threatening to terminate government contracts and subsidies for Musk's companies. The entrepreneur supported a call for the president's impeachment. Musk later acknowledged that some of his statements were excessive.
Musk and Trump subsequently reconciled. This week, the entrepreneur took part in the president's meeting with technology company executives at the White House on artificial intelligence safety. Participation in Project Meridian will mark his return to official advisory work with the administration after the conflict.
Musk's companies are already cooperating with the Pentagon. SpaceX is involved in building satellite systems for the Golden Dome missile defense project, and xAI has reached an agreement to use the Grok chatbot in classified military systems.