Musk issues threat to stupefy US space program

(MENAFN)
Elon Musk has threatened to begin dismantling SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, a decision that could cripple the US space program. The move came in response to President Donald Trump’s public threat to cancel all government subsidies and contracts with Musk’s companies.

The dispute erupted after Musk criticized Trump’s “Big and Beautiful” tax and spending bill, calling it a “pork-filled, disgusting abomination” that would plunge the US into “debt slavery.” Trump retaliated on Truth Social, suggesting that billions could be saved by cutting off government funding to Musk, accusing the Tesla CEO of “going CRAZY” over the loss of electric vehicle tax credits.

Reacting to the president’s remarks, Musk posted on X: “In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately.” The announcement sparked widespread concern given the critical role Dragon plays in US space missions.

However, hours later, Musk appeared to reverse his stance after a user urged him to “cool off.” Musk replied, “Good advice. Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon,” though this message did not appear on his public timeline, leaving some uncertainty around his intentions.

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon is currently the only certified US spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts to space. Since 2020, NASA has depended on it to carry crew and supplies to the International Space Station, especially after the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011.

Boeing’s Starliner program, meant to be a competitor, has faced repeated setbacks. Its first crewed mission, delayed for years, ended with two astronauts stranded on the ISS. They were eventually brought back to Earth in March aboard a SpaceX capsule, after Trump personally urged Musk to intervene.

While NASA recently extended its ride-sharing agreement with Russia’s Roscosmos through 2027, SpaceX remains a cornerstone of the US space program, having received over $20 billion in federal contracts since 2008. Trump has yet to clarify whether any of Musk’s existing contracts will be formally revoked.

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