The Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank, has initiated an extensive inquiry into the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s internal communications regarding Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump. This investigation, revealed through federal records, is part of a larger effort to prepare for a potential second Trump administration.
Since September 3, 2024, the Heritage Foundation has submitted at least 192 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to NASA. These requests seek to uncover employee discussions mentioning Musk, Trump, or Musk's companies, including SpaceX and Tesla. The foundation's investigative unit director, Mike Howell, stated that this campaign aims to identify civil servants who might impede Trump's plans if he were to be re-elected in November 2024.
This initiative is not isolated to NASA. The Heritage Foundation has filed over 65,000 similar requests across various federal agencies in recent years. The organization's interest in NASA stems from concerns that the agency may be hindering progress for private companies like SpaceX, which has secured contracts worth more than $11.8 billion with the space agency.
Howell expressed criticism of NASA's current focus, stating, "Instead of cool things in space, NASA is doing all this woke stuff on the ground." This sentiment reflects a broader conservative critique of perceived cultural and identity politics within federal agencies.
The Heritage Foundation's efforts have raised concerns among government administration specialists. Kel McClanahan, a Washington lawyer specializing in federal employment, characterized the requests as a partisan attempt to create an "undesirables list" of employees critical of Trump and Musk.
"This is clearly part of the Heritage Foundation's endeavor to find people who are critical of Trump and Musk and put them on an undesirables list. To install loyalists, they have to figure out who to get rid of."
The foundation's actions are linked to "Project 2025," an initiative viewed as a blueprint for a conservative overhaul of the federal government in a potential second Trump term. This project includes plans to revive the "Schedule F" executive order, which would strip many civil servants of longstanding job protections.
Trump has repeatedly stated his intention to appoint Musk as a government efficiency czar if re-elected. Musk, who has grown increasingly critical of federal bureaucracy, especially agencies regulating his businesses, expressed openness to such a role, stating on X (formerly Twitter), "I look forward to serving America if the opportunity arises."
The Heritage Foundation's campaign extends beyond NASA, with Howell mentioning requests to federal law enforcement agencies to investigate potential "mistreatment" of Musk. This broad-reaching effort underscores the foundation's significant influence in conservative policy-making circles since its establishment in 1973.
As the largest employer in the United States, with over 2 million civilian employees, the federal government's potential restructuring under these plans could have far-reaching implications. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between political appointees and career civil servants, a dynamic that has shaped American governance since the establishment of the modern civil service system in 1883.
While there's no indication of direct involvement from Musk or the Trump campaign in these information requests, the situation underscores the complex interplay between private industry, political ambitions, and government agencies in shaping the future of American space exploration and public administration.