WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (GeokHub) — Two U.S. senators are calling on the Pentagon to urgently examine SpaceX amid allegations that investors linked to China may have quietly obtained stakes in the privately held aerospace company, raising concerns about national security risks.
In a letter sent Thursday to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim said any undisclosed foreign ownership could threaten sensitive military, intelligence, and civilian infrastructure that relies heavily on SpaceX technology.
The lawmakers pointed to reports and sworn court testimony suggesting that funds connected to Chinese investors may have been routed through offshore entities to obscure ownership of SpaceX shares. They warned that such arrangements, if confirmed, could violate U.S. rules governing foreign ownership, control, or influence of companies tied to national defense.
Founded by Elon Musk, SpaceX plays a critical role in U.S. security operations. The company launches military and intelligence satellites and operates the Starlink satellite network, which is used by the Pentagon and has supported Ukraine’s defense efforts.
The senators asked the Department of Defense to determine whether SpaceX is subject to foreign ownership mitigation requirements, disclose the extent of any Chinese-linked investment, and assess whether such holdings should be reviewed by federal authorities responsible for overseeing foreign investment risks. They requested a formal response by February 20.
Concerns have intensified following SpaceX’s recent acquisition of artificial intelligence company xAI, a move that further integrates space launch capabilities, satellite communications, AI systems, and real-time data platforms under a single corporate umbrella.
Court records from last year show that a U.S. judge upheld a fund manager’s decision to remove a Chinese investor from an investment vehicle created to purchase SpaceX shares. The investor was refunded after SpaceX indicated it would not allow the fund to proceed with the purchase if the Chinese-linked entity remained involved.
SpaceX did not immediately comment on the lawmakers’ request.
