Pentagon IG declines to probe Starlink disruptions affecting Ukraine

The Department of Defense inspector general’s office has declined a bipartisan request to investigate recent slowdowns in satellite internet service to Ukraine. The decision was communicated in a letter dated Tuesday and obtained by The Associated Press. The watchdog told nine senators that the Air Force is better positioned to address the concerns.

Ukrainian officials reported earlier this month that connection speeds for Starlink and Starshield were being throttled. They stated the restrictions impeded their ability to intercept fast-moving Russian attack drones. Starlink is a commercial service developed by SpaceX, while Starshield is the military-grade version of the technology.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and signed the initial letter to the inspector general. She described the decision not to investigate as concerning. Shaheen noted that the Trump administration and SpaceX have provided conflicting accounts regarding the cause of the disruptions. She called for an independent accounting to determine responsibility and prevent future incidents.

Elon Musk, the chief executive of SpaceX, acknowledged this past weekend that the company had throttled Starlink in Ukraine. He accused the country of violating terms of service, a claim Ukrainian officials denied. Musk maintained that the U.S. government controlled changes to Starshield. President Donald Trump said he did not order any restrictions, while Vice President JD Vance suggested there was White House coordination with Musk.

Mollie Halpern, a spokeswoman for the inspector general’s office, stated that the office carefully considered the request. She said the matters raised were best addressed by the Department of Defense. Halpern added that the office may reconsider if new information comes to light.

The Pentagon referred requests for comment to the inspector general’s office. The Air Force did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Both entities have previously declined to answer questions about the throttling of Ukraine’s satellite internet access. The nine lawmakers asked the inspector general to determine if any U.S. officials directed or authorized the changes.

A congressional aide familiar with the matter said lawmakers need to know if government officials were involved and if Musk exploited a system loophole. In 2022, Musk ordered a Starlink blackout in regions including Kherson and Donetsk during the early days of the conflict. Following this month's slowdowns, Finnish satellite company Iceye announced it is partnering with Nokia and the Ukrainian defense ministry to explore sovereign satellite communications.