Pentagon watchdog declines to investigate Starlink restrictions in Ukraine despite bipartisan request - AP
The Pentagon's inspector general has declined a bipartisan request from nine U.S. lawmakers to investigate disruptions to Starlink and Starshield satellite communications in Ukraine, referring their concerns to the U.S. Air Force instead, the Associated Press reported on October 29.
Four Republican and five Democratic senators had requested an independent investigation after Ukrainian officials reported that SpaceX had restricted satellite connectivity earlier this month, affecting Ukraine's ability to intercept fast-moving Russian attack drones.
The lawmakers sought to determine whether Pentagon or other U.S. officials had ordered, authorized, approved, or known in advance about changes to satellite communications, intelligence sharing, or early-warning capabilities affecting Ukraine.
"It is concerning that the Inspector General has apparently decided not to investigate satellite communication disruptions that Ukraine relies on to protect its civilians," Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said.
She argued that the Trump administration and SpaceX had offered conflicting explanations and called for an independent review to establish responsibility.
A spokesperson for the inspector general's office, Mollie Halpern, said the watchdog had carefully reviewed the request and concluded that the issues were best addressed by the Pentagon. She added that the decision could be reconsidered if new information emerged.
Who ordered the restrictions remains unclear. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk acknowledged that his company had throttled Starlink service in Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of violating its terms of service — an allegation Ukrainian officials denied. Musk maintained that the U.S. government controlled Starshield, the military-grade version of the system.
President Donald Trump has denied ordering the restrictions, while Vice President JD Vance has suggested coordination between the White House and Musk.
According to AP, lawmakers are seeking to establish whether U.S. officials were involved or whether Musk exploited a gap in government oversight of the satellite network.
Ukraine reported that Starshield restrictions began on October 14, limiting connectivity for high-speed military applications. On October 24, Ukrainian officials said the services had been restored to speeds sufficient for operational use.