Pentagon Watchdog Declines Senators' Request to Investigate Starlink Disruptions in Ukraine
The Pentagon inspector general told nine senators the Starlink and Starshield disruptions in Ukraine are a contractual matter for the Air Force and Space Force, not his office.
The story in focus
The Pentagon inspector general declined a bipartisan group of nine senators' request to investigate recent Starlink and Starshield disruptions in Ukraine, ABC News reported, calling the matter contractual and better addressed by the Air Force and Space Force. The office said it may reconsider if new information emerges; Sen. Jeanne Shaheen called the decision concerning.
- The Pentagon inspector general declined a request from nine bipartisan senators to investigate Starlink and Starshield disruptions in Ukraine.
- The watchdog said the disruptions were a contractual matter better addressed by the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, which hold jurisdiction over the military's SpaceX contract.
- A spokesperson said the office carefully considered the request and may reconsider if new information comes to light.
- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen called the decision concerning and urged a full investigation.
- U.S. and Ukrainian officials say the services have been restored to normal conditions.
Watchdog points to military services
The Pentagon's inspector general has declined to investigate reported disruptions of Starlink and Starshield in Ukraine, telling lawmakers who requested a probe that his office is not best suited to answer their questions, ABC News reported.
Platte Moring, who leads the independent watchdog office, told lawmakers the matter was contractual and would be best addressed to the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, according to a document seen by ABC News. Both services have jurisdiction over the U.S. military's contract with SpaceX for Starlink.
Mollie Halpern, a spokesperson for the Defense Department inspector general, said the office carefully considered the congressional request and determined the matters were best addressed by the department, adding that it may reconsider if new information emerges.
Lawmakers press for answers
The disruptions drew widespread criticism as Ukraine came under Russian attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said limits imposed on the satellite networks were a U.S. government decision. U.S. and Ukrainian officials have since said service has been restored to normal conditions.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat among the nine senators seeking the inquiry, called the decision not to proceed concerning. She said the administration and SpaceX have given conflicting accounts of what caused the disruptions, which she said weakened Ukraine's defenses and put American personnel at risk.
Shaheen urged the inspector general to conduct a full investigation to establish responsibility and prevent a recurrence. Initially the watchdog suggested the senators direct their questions to the Defense Department's under secretary for policy, which in turn said the matter belonged with the two military services.
Why did the Pentagon inspector general decline to investigate the Starlink disruptions?
The office said the reported disruptions were a contractual matter best addressed by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, which hold jurisdiction over the military's SpaceX contract, and left open reconsideration if new information emerges.
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