Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and a bipartisan group of senators are calling for an investigation into service disruptions of the Starshield satellite-based internet network in Ukraine. In a Tuesday interview on CNN, Warren questioned whether SpaceX founder Elon Musk or President Donald Trump authorized data speed caps that reportedly hampered Ukrainian military operations.
The inquiry follows reports from the Wall Street Journal and CBS News that Musk ordered restrictions on Ukraine’s Starshield access, which the Ukrainian government uses to operate drones and detect missile attacks. Musk stated on social media that the Department of Defense (DOD) controls Starshield and that the U.S. military or the president decides on usage limits. However, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested that Starlink, the civilian arm of SpaceX, makes decisions regarding terms of service compliance.
Ukraine reported three instances in the past week where it did not receive early warnings of Russian missile attacks due to service lapses. A bipartisan request for an investigation was submitted to the DOD Inspector General by Republican Sens. John Cornyn (TX), Thom Tillis (NC), Susan Collins (ME), and Lisa Murkowski (AK). They seek to determine if senior Pentagon officials ordered or had advance knowledge of the restrictions.
The situation involves significant federal spending and national security infrastructure. SpaceX developed Starshield for military use under contract with the Department of Defense. While the total dollar amount of the contract was not reported, Musk recently pledged SpaceX stock to "Trump Accounts," according to the Washington Examiner. For the U.S. government, the dispute sets a precedent for how much control a private contractor retains over technology integrated into foreign military aid and national defense systems.
Moving forward, lawmakers including Rep. Fitzpatrick have called for witnesses to be brought in under oath to determine who held the final decision-making authority over the data caps. Senator Warren stated that a Democratic majority in the House and Senate following the 2026 midterm elections would be necessary to establish constraints on such executive or private actions. The DOD Inspector General has not yet reported a formal start date for the requested investigation into Pentagon officials’ involvement.