Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally appointed Elon Musk as one of three co-leads for Project Meridian on September 30, 2026, alongside Palmer Luckey and Newt Gingrich. The Pentagon initiative operates under Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael to assess future warfare domains, capability gaps, and technology priorities through a 120-day process ending with recommendations due no later than January 28, 2027. Musk's role is structured as a time-limited advisory position drawing on external expertise, with no subsequent official actions, congressional interventions, or public statements indicating removal. The January 27 market horizon aligns closely with the project's scheduled completion, supporting trader consensus that Musk will remain in the co-lead position through that date.