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3471Elon Musk’s company SpaceX just locked in a massive deal with the U.S. government, and not everyone is thrilled.
On April 4, the U.S. Space Force awarded SpaceX a $5.9 billion contract to launch 28 national security missions through 2029. It’s part of a wider $13.5 billion program also involving United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin.
But not everyone in Washington is celebrating the news.
Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) wrote on X: “Musk may be leaving — but he’s looting the federal government on the way out and setting himself up to make billions in federal contracts. Folks, this is grift.”
National Security Missions Go to the Private Sector
The Space Force’s contract is part of Phase 3 of its National Security Space Launch program. These are high-stakes, technically demanding satellite launches, reserved for the most capable U.S. companies.
SpaceX emerged as the top contractor, followed by ULA with $5.3 billion for 19 missions and Blue Origin with $2.3 billion for seven missions.
According to Reuters, SpaceX will handle most of the initial missions thanks to its strong track record and frequent launch schedule. Its Falcon 9 rocket alone has launched hundreds of times, with a 99.4% success rate.
This is a significant step up from the previous phase of the program, when SpaceX had only 40% of the missions. Now, it’s getting nearly 60%.
Critics Call It Corruption. Others Say It’s Just Good Business.
Critics online backed Stansbury’s take, with one user writing, “Musk is corrupt,” and another claiming, “In EU he already would be in prison.”
Musk, who has close ties to President Trump and influence in federal policymaking, continues to win major government contracts, fueling both praise and suspicion.
But others quickly pushed back. “Elon’s companies provide value above and beyond that of their competitors. This is proven by market results.”
One user added, “Elon isn’t looting the government — he’s replacing bloated defense contractors with faster, cheaper, more effective tech… This isn’t some DOGE sideshow. It’s the logical result of a private sector innovator eating the defense industry’s lunch.”
Elon Musk also addressed the contract in a post on X before Stansbury shared her criticism.
He said, “Winning 60% of the missions may sound generous, but the reality is that all SpaceX competitors combined cannot currently deliver the other 40%! I hope they succeed, but they aren’t there yet.”
A Larger Debate About Government Spending
At the heart of the controversy is whether awarding billions in federal contracts to a private company, even a high-performing one, counts as corruption or simply smart procurement.
Supporters argue that SpaceX is helping modernize outdated defense operations. Detractors, like Stansbury, believe this kind of spending benefits billionaires at the expense of taxpayers.
Either way, the government is betting heavily on Musk’s rockets to carry some of its most sensitive missions into space over the next five years.
And for now, Musk is laughing all the way to the launchpad.
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