Key facts
- Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Coons wrote that the October and November restrictions raise the possibility that vulnerabilities persist in systems the US government relies on.
- The letter seeks records from September 1, including communications between Musk, SpaceX officials, the White House and the US Defense Department.
- The senators asked SpaceX to confirm compliance and respond to oversight inquiries by November 30.
- SpaceX told Axios that reports of renewed speed caps were false and that there had been no change.
- Musk said he was not responsible for the October restriction and alleged Ukraine violated Starlink's terms of service, a claim Kyiv denied.
Senate Democrats ordered SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to preserve all records related to restrictions on Ukraine's Starlink and Starshield service, the Wall Street Journal reported on November 13, citing a letter it reviewed. The restrictions limit Starshield's operating speed to 161 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour), which the report says limits Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian strike drones.
The letter demands Musk preserve documentation on service restrictions from October 13 to 24 and again on November 12. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Coons wrote that the October and November restrictions "now raise the disturbing possibility that these vulnerabilities persist even within systems on which the U.S. government relies." They also said the interference "raises serious questions about the control SpaceX has" over national security matters and criticized the company's "opaque decision-making."
The senators asked SpaceX to provide records from September 1, including communications related to Ukraine's Starlink and Starshield service and communications between Musk, SpaceX officials, the White House and the US Defense Department. The letter orders SpaceX to confirm compliance and respond to oversight inquiries by November 30.
SpaceX denied President Volodymyr Zelensky's reports of renewed speed caps, telling Axios: "This is false. There has been no change." After the October disruption, Musk said he was not responsible for the decision to restrict Ukraine's service, despite reporting that he proposed the plan to US President Donald Trump, who was pressuring Kyiv to pause attacks on Russian oil refineries. Musk then alleged Ukraine had violated Starlink's terms of service, a claim Kyiv denied.
Following their midterm election victories in November, Democrats in Congress plan to launch an investigation in January 2027 into the White House's handling of the war in Ukraine and Musk's involvement.