Pentagon IG declines Starlink probe

The Department of Defense inspector general’s office has rejected a bipartisan request to audit recent restrictions on satellite services in Ukraine. The move leaves the question of who controlled the network during the disruptions unresolved within the executive branch.

Ukrainian military units reported losing satellite connectivity for drones traveling above 161 kilometers per hour in early October. SpaceX’s Starlink service and its military counterpart, Starshield, were affected by the speed cap. The limit was lifted after approximately ten days.

On October 15, nine senators sent a letter to Inspector General Platte Moring. Five Democrats and four Republicans asked whether the Department of Defense or SpaceX directed the changes. They also inquired if the actions matched existing government contracts.

Moring responded in a letter on Tuesday that the Air Force and Space Force are better positioned to handle the inquiry. He told the lawmakers that those branches should coordinate the department’s answers to their questions. The inspector general’s office stated that it carefully considered the request before determining the Defense Department was the appropriate body to respond.

The timing of the technical issues coincided with political tensions. CNN reported that the problems emerged after the administration threatened to withhold intelligence from Kyiv. That threat followed Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. President Donald Trump had recently agreed to buy Russian diesel and ease sanctions on Moscow.

The inspector general’s office said it may reconsider the decision if new information surfaces. The Department of Defense has not yet stated whether it will launch its own investigation into the speed restrictions.