Pentagon Inspector General Sends Starlink Ukraine Probe to Air Force

The Pentagon inspector general’s office has decided not to open its own investigation into the recent disruptions of Starlink and Starshield satellite services in Ukraine. In a letter dated Tuesday, the office told a group of nine lawmakers that their concerns are better addressed by the Air Force. The decision leaves the matter of the throttling within the military chain of command rather than under independent oversight.

The request for an inquiry came from a bipartisan coalition of four Republican and five Democratic senators. They asked the inspector general to determine if any U.S. government officials directed, authorized, or had advance knowledge of changes to intelligence sharing or satellite services affecting Ukraine. The lawmakers cited reports from Ukrainian officials this month that connection speeds were being reduced. Those restrictions reportedly hindered the ability of Ukrainian forces to intercept fast-moving Russian attack drones.

Mollie Halpern, a spokeswoman for the inspector general’s office, explained the rationale in a response to the Associated Press. She stated that the office carefully considered the congressional request and determined the matters raised were best addressed by the Department of Defense. Halpern added that the office may reconsider its stance if new information comes to light. The Pentagon referred requests for comment to the inspector general’s office, while the Air Force did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concern over the lack of an independent review. In a statement, she noted that the Trump Administration and SpaceX have provided conflicting accounts of what led to the disruptions. She argued that an independent accounting is necessary to determine responsibility and prevent similar issues in the future. Shaheen signed the initial letter requesting the investigation.

Conflicting explanations from the White House and SpaceX have complicated the search for answers. Elon Musk acknowledged this past weekend that SpaceX throttled Starlink in Ukraine, claiming the country violated terms of service. Ukrainian officials denied those claims. Musk maintained that the U.S. government controlled changes to the military-grade Starshield version. President Donald Trump said he did not order any restrictions, while Vice President JD Vance hinted at White House coordination with Musk.

The situation raises questions about the influence of SpaceX over defense communications. A congressional aide familiar with the matter said concerns on Capitol Hill over Musk’s control of Starlink go back years. Those concerns were part of the reason for the creation of Starshield, the military-facing version of the service. The aide noted that the inspector general is well-positioned to investigate Musk and Starlink but has declined to do so.

This is not the first time Musk has interfered with Ukraine’s satellite connectivity. In 2022, during the early days of the conflict, Musk ordered a Starlink blackout in regions including Kherson and Donetsk. He stated he was concerned about potential Russian escalation. The recent throttling has prompted Ukrainian partners to look for alternative solutions. Finnish satellite company Iceye announced it is partnering with telecommunications company Nokia and the Ukrainian defense ministry to explore cooperation in building sovereign satellite communications.

The nine lawmakers seeking the investigation want answers to two key questions. They want to know if any U.S. government officials were involved in the decision to slow the service and if Musk was exploiting a loophole in the system. According to the congressional aide, those answers will help inform future oversight efforts and legislation regarding military communication networks.