Hegseth names Musk, Luckey and Gingrich to lead Pentagon warfare study

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey and Newt Gingrich will lead a new Pentagon effort dubbed "Project Meridian" to study the future of warfare, according to The Hill, Axios and CNBC. Musk is the CEO of SpaceX, Luckey is the co-founder of defense technology company Anduril, and Gingrich is the former Republican speaker of the House.

Hegseth unveiled the project during an address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, according to Axios. He described the effort as drawing on "our innovators, our senior leaders and our technologists — big thinkers and doers who will forecast the creative solution for tomorrow's conflicts," Axios reported. According to The Guardian, a defense department press release described the project's goal as "identifying the capabilities required to achieve absolute technological dominance on the next-generation battlefield."

The Guardian reported that the project will run for 120 days and culminate in an unclassified public report of recommendations. Axios reported that Hegseth said the effort is not meant to produce new policy documents but will instead examine "the domains we must conquer, and capabilities we must master," with work "focused on discovering, developing and fielding the weapons and systems that our children and our grandchildren will need in their lifetimes."

This marks Musk's first official advisory role with the Trump administration since departing the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which he had led, according to The Guardian and Axios. Axios noted it follows a public feud between Musk and President Trump last year, after which the two have since reconciled. Axios also reported that Pentagon technology chief Emil Michael will help facilitate the project.

How the coverage differed

Left-leaning outlets, including The Guardian and The New Republic, emphasized Musk's return to government after his departure from DOGE and his falling out with Trump, framing the appointment within that history. The Guardian specifically noted Musk's "explosive tenure" at DOGE and his return to the administration's "good graces." Engadget took a lighter tone, noting that Gingrich would also advise, "so for some reason."

Center outlets, such as Axios, The Hill and CNBC, focused more on the mechanics and stated purpose of Project Meridian, quoting Hegseth's remarks at Quantico directly and detailing the 120-day structure and the roles of Musk, Luckey and Gingrich. Forbes framed the story specifically around weapons development.

Right-leaning outlets, including the New York Post and Fox News, emphasized Musk's expanding role in the administration, with the New York Post referring to Musk and Luckey as "tech bros" and noting Hegseth's title as "Secretary of War." These outlets gave comparatively less detail on the DOGE backstory than left-leaning coverage.

What is still unclear

The sources do not specify what specific recommendations or weapons systems Project Meridian might produce, nor do they detail how Musk, Luckey and Gingrich will divide responsibilities among themselves or with Pentagon technology chief Emil Michael beyond his facilitation role.