Early in Borderlands 4, the quest Recruitment Drive familiarizes you with Safehouses, exploration, and Claptrap’s signature nonsense. After taking the broadcast tower by storm and declaring it your first Safehouse, the quest takes a sharp turn when you’re instructed to turn on the elevator. The twist? You require clearance, and the game doesn’t precisely state what that entails.
Finding the Elevator Clearance

When you arrive for the first time at the elevator, Claptrap makes sure that it will not operate without proper clearance. Rather than checking the tower itself, face straight ahead of the elevator. There is a dead Ripper lying there, and on the neck of the body is a glowing bolt. Move towards the body until you have the “Take” prompt, then grab the bolt.
This little thing is the elevator clearance you require. When you have it in your inventory, approach the elevator again, and it will activate. Ride it down here with Claptrap babbling on, and you will have officially completed this portion of the quest and clear the path for further exploration of Kairos.