Associated Press: Pentagon Inspector General Refuses to Investigate Starlink Disruptions in Ukraine
The Pentagon's Inspector General has refused to investigate a bipartisan request from senators regarding disruptions to Starlink and Starshield satellite communications in Ukraine. According to a report obtained by AP, these issues are better addressed by the U.S. Air Force. Lawmakers have criticized this as a reluctance by the independent oversight body to address the influence of Elon Musk on military communications.
"The Pentagon's Inspector General is refusing a bipartisan request to investigate recent disruptions to Starlink and Starshield satellite communications for Ukraine, raising concerns among lawmakers that the military, and even its independent Inspector General, are unwilling to confront the influence that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has on defense communications," AP reports.
The request was sent by nine senators – four Republicans and five Democrats. According to AP, in a response on Tuesday, the inspector general indicated that these issues should be handled by the Air Force. A congressional aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, said this is being perceived as a refusal to investigate Musk, despite the agency having all the means to do so.
"It is concerning that the Inspector General appears to have decided not to investigate the satellite disruptions that Ukraine relies on to protect its citizens. The Trump administration and SpaceX have provided conflicting explanations for what caused these disruptions. There needs to be an independent accounting and review to determine responsibility and prevent this from happening again," AP quoted Senator Jeanne Shaheen as saying.
The publication notes that Musk previously admitted that SpaceX had limited the speed of Starlink in Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of violating the terms of service. At the same time, he claimed that the U.S. government controlled changes to Starshield. Trump stated that he did not give orders to impose restrictions, while Vice President Pence hinted at coordination between the White House and Musk. Officials questioned by AP were unable to clearly explain who authorized the slowdown.
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