The Pentagon’s inspector general has declined a bipartisan request to investigate the recent slowdowns of SpaceX’s Starshield and commercial Starlink service in Ukraine, CNN reports, citing a letter first reported by the Associated Press.
The request and the answer
Earlier in October, nine senators led by Republican Thom Tillis and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen asked the inspector general for “an immediate investigation” into the disruptions. Ukrainian officials have said the speed restrictions came without warning and hurt the country’s defenses.
In a letter dated Tuesday, October 27, Inspector General Platte Moring said the questions should go to the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, which he said “are better suited to address the matters raised in your letter.” An IG spokesperson said the office “carefully considered the congressional request” and “should new information come to light, we may reconsider.”
Shaheen called the decision “concerning” and said the Trump administration and SpaceX “have provided conflicting accounts of what led to those disruptions,” urging a full independent investigation.
Background
Speeds were fully restored on Saturday, October 24, according to CNN, but it is still unclear who ordered the slowdowns. On October 25, Elon Musk appeared to confirm on X that SpaceX had throttled commercial Starlink, accusing Ukraine’s military of violating its terms of service, while saying Starshield “is controlled by the US government.” Ukrainian adviser Serhiy Sternenko disputed Musk’s claims. Axios also reports that the episode has pushed European governments to look harder at alternatives to Starlink.