Trump-linked financiers join Pentagon advisory board, sparking ethics questions

Pete Hegseth named two Defense Policy Board members with deep ties to 1789 Capital, a fund co-investing with Marc Andreessen’s Andreessen Horowitz in defense contractors like Anduril, Hadrian, and SpaceX. Blake Masters sits on three 1789-backed Colombier boards, and both advisers will influence Pentagon policy on defense-technology, raising concerns about conflicts of interest given the Trump family’s financial links through 1789 Capital. Critics say such crossovers between investors and defense contracting can skew priorities, while the DoD and a16z did not comment. The piece also outlines 1789’s conservative backing, rapid growth after Trump Jr joined, and the widespread federal money flowing to companies in which these funds invest, including autonomous-weapons and surveillance firms.