SpaceX Starlink restrictions in Ukraine trigger congressional probe
A congressional investigation is underway after SpaceX restricted Starlink services in Ukraine, a move that reportedly compromised drone defenses. The incident has sparked debate over national security controls and the role of private entities in military operations.
Elon Musk is facing a congressional probe after SpaceX restricted its military satellite service, Starlink, in Ukraine last month. The restriction reportedly took a hit to Ukraine's drone defenses, leading to increased death and destruction for Ukrainian civilians, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Senator Richard Blumenthal is pushing for public interest controls on Starlink and seeks to determine who made the decision to restrict service. A public dispute has emerged between President Trump and Musk, with each blaming the other for the order. According to the report, a private citizen decided to throttle back the service, raising questions about the lack of guardrails in national security operations.
Scott Galloway argued that a private citizen should not be able to make decisions affecting national security and that Musk should testify under oath to clarify the events. He contended that 80% of Americans support Ukraine and that the U.S. has effectively abandoned them, increasing the likelihood of a successful Russian invasion of Europe. Galloway suggested that Democrats should propose a bill reaffirming U.S. commitment to Europe regardless of cost. Kara Swisher questioned whether the government could afford to nationalize Starlink, given its $1.77 trillion valuation from its public listing this summer, but supported an investigation into the incident. SpaceX went public this summer at that valuation, highlighting the significant financial stakes involved in the debate.