Lawmakers Call for Oversight After Ukraine’s Starshield Access Is Cut

Republican senators and representatives say the United States has become overly dependent on Elon Musk’s SpaceX for critical space-based communications. Sen. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also suggested Musk bears responsibility for Ukraine’s recent loss of Starshield capability.

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GOP officials are seeking formal inquiries into who ordered the slowdown of Ukraine’s Starshield service. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), former chair of the House Intelligence Committee, told CBS News that “lives are at risk” and called for an investigation. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) echoed the demand, saying witnesses must be called and put “under oath.” Four senators—John Cornyn (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)—signed a bipartisan letter asking the Defense Department’s inspector general to examine whether senior Pentagon officials limited access.

The Hill

The restriction has prompted criticism beyond Capitol Hill. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski questioned whether Musk is “playing politics” with a vital defense technology, urging European governments to reconsider reliance on SpaceX.

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“We cannot just move past this. This is a serious, serious issue because lapsing Starshield in that manner that costs human lives, there’s got to be consequences to that.” — Ross Gerber, a SpaceX investor

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Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), have joined the call for an inquiry, warning that Musk’s control could “dictate our foreign policy” and pose an “enormous risk.” Both parties appear poised to pursue legislation that would broaden congressional oversight of SpaceX contracts and encourage greater competition in the U.S. space sector.

The Hill