WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Two Democratic senators, Elizabeth Warren and Tammy Duckworth, from the Senate Armed Services Committee, have raised concerns about whether Troy Meink, President Donald Trump's nominee for Air Force secretary, showed favoritism towards Elon Musk in a classified multibillion-dollar spy satellite contract.
In a letter sent on Thursday, the lawmakers questioned Meink, a former top official at the National Reconnaissance Office, about his involvement in altering the contract requirements, allegedly benefiting Musk's company, SpaceX, in securing the contract.
Reports of potential impropriety have led the agency's inspector general to investigate whether Meink unduly steered the contract towards SpaceX. Notably, Musk's space company secured the contract in 2021.
The completion and details of the inspector general's investigation remain unclear, while Meink was unavailable for comment on the senators' letter.
An NRO spokesperson stated that all acquisitions undergo rigorous review to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, avoiding specific comments on the spy satellite contract. Both SpaceX and Musk did not respond to requests for comment.
The senators highlighted concerns about fairness and conflict of interest, urging Meink to clarify his ties to Musk and SpaceX. They requested a response from Meink by March 6, as part of a push for transparency regarding the potential drawbacks of sole vendor dependence.