Warren Raises Questions About Pentagon Granting Classified Access to Elon Musk’s Grok AI, Sidestepping National Security Concerns

Warren Raises Questions About Pentagon Granting Classified Access to Elon Musk's Grok AI, Sidestepping National Security Concerns

"I am concerned that Grok's apparent lack of adequate guardrails could pose serious risks to the safety of U.S. military personnel and to the cybersecurity of classified systems."

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, pressed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on the Department of Defense (DoD) granting Elon Musk's xAI chatbot Grok access to classified security systems - reportedly ignoring concerns raised by multiple federal agencies, including the National Security Agency (NSA) and the General Services Administration (GSA).

"Were Grok to leak government information, this could reveal sensitive military plans, U.S. intelligence efforts, and potentially put service members in danger," wrote Senator Warren.

Last month, the Pentagon signed an agreement with xAI granting Grok access to confidential military security systems. Numerous reports have found Grok to pose serious safety concerns, including data bias and manipulation, generating offensive and illegal content, and leaking private chat conversations on the Internet.

Grok reportedly has given users advice on how to commit murders and terrorist attacks, generated antisemitic content, and created child sexual abuse material. According to recent reports, the National Security Agency "conducted a classified review… [and] determined Grok had particular security concerns that other models…didn't."

Multiple reports have indicated that xAI may not have imposed adequate safeguards for Grok. DoD's Chief of Responsible AI reportedly stepped down after circulating internal memos warning about Grok's safety issues and receiving little to no attention on the matter, and other analysts have raised concerns that "xAI didn't have the kind of reputation or track record that typically leads to lucrative government contracts."

But it is still unclear what assurances or documentation xAI has provided to the Department of Defense about Grok's security safeguards, data-handling practices, or safety controls - and whether DoD evaluated those assurances before reportedly allowing Grok access to classified systems.

"I am concerned that Grok's apparent lack of adequate guardrails could pose serious risks to the safety of U.S. military personnel and to the cybersecurity of classified systems, especially if Grok is given sensitive military information and access to operational systems," wrote Senator Warren. "I write to request that you immediately provide information on how DoD plans to mitigate these potential national security risks."

Senator Warren pushed DoD to provide Congress with a copy of the agreement reached between the Department and xAI; copies of all communications with xAI regarding said agreement; clarification of what safeguards are in place to guard against classified data leaks and cyberattacks; and whether the DoD required Grok to mitigate the security and safety concerns by March 30, 2026.

In September, after a high-profile incident where Grok created antisemitic and other offensive content, Senator Warren raised concerns about DoD's decision to award Musk's xAI a contract worth up to $200 million to use Grok. At the time, Senator Warren also raised concerns about xAI's access to sensitive government data and sounded the alarm on the fact that the contract may be another example of Musk improperly benefitting from his time in government.

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