Crow Demands SpaceX Explain Role in Starshield Disruptions

October 25, 2026 Press Release AURORA — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, is demanding SpaceX CEO Elon Musk explain what he and his company know about the disruptions that occurred to Ukraine’s Starshield satellites. The letter also asks whether SpaceX has restored access, if they discussed any of this with Vladimir Putin, and if the company considered the impacts of this decision. According to the reporting , Musk was involved in the disruption after speaking with administration officials, including President Donald Trump.Since the disruptions occurred, Ukrainian civilians have been killed by Russian strikes, and U.S. personnel have been put at risk. "Unelected billionaires and private corporations should not decide what is in the best interest of America's national security. Trump and Musk are pointing fingers at each other, and someone is not telling the truth, said Congressman Crow. “We need answers about what happened. These life-and-death decisions endangered US diplomats and embassy staff, and led to civilian deaths in Ukraine. Trump is abandoning our allies.” Joining Crow in his letter to Musk are Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Gregory Meeks (D-NY), and Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee Jim McGovern (D-MA). Crow and his colleagues wrote: “You have publicly asserted that limits to Starlink access are ‘decided by the U.S. military and ultimately POTUS.’ Yet public reporting indicates that you personally brought the suggestion to President Trump to slow down Ukrainian communications through SpaceX’s Starlink systems, and U.S. government officials have reportedly indicated that you personally ordered the speed cap on Ukrainian military use of Starshield. “As a publicly traded company, SpaceX has a legal obligation to disclose to shareholders and the public material events that could affect your business model. The revelation that you personally wielded control over a foreign country’s military communications would require disclosure of elevated risks for corporate governance, geopolitical exposure, and potential adverse actions by foreign governments,” they continued. Congressman Crow has been a strong supporter of the Ukrainian people. Upon news of the Starshield disruption, he immediately pressed the Trump Administration for answers on who authorized the changes and what its impacts were. He recently introduced a bill to protect Ukrainian nationals already in the U.S. against the threat of deportation by extending their Temporary Protected Status (TPS). When Putin’s invasion began, Crow immediately called for the U.S. to send military and humanitarian support to Ukraine, for international sanctions against Russia, and for a stronger NATO alliance to meet these new security threats. Weeks later, as Ukrainians fled their homes, Congressman Crow and other members advocated for an expedited immigration status for Ukrainians to the U.S. Crow has visited Ukraine several times since Russia’s invasion. The Congressman has been one of the earliest and strongest supporters of military , development , and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine. He voted for, and strongly advocated for, every supplemental package provided to Ukraine. Full text of the letter is available below: Dear Mr. Musk Your company’s Starlink communications system has been instrumental in allowing Ukraine to defend itself against Russian missile and drone attacks targeting civilians. Access to Starlink has recently been throttled or cut off entirely, without a clear explanation as to why. Since the failure of his ground invasion, Russian leader Vladimir Putin turned to a brutal air campaign targeting Ukrainian civilians to wear down public morale. Just last month, more than 300 Ukrainian civilians were killed and 2,000 injured by Russian drone and missile strikes. Ukraine has built an innovative network of drone systems to defend against the thousands of strikes launched each month by Russia. However, these life-saving systems often depend on Starlink’s military version, Starshield, for accurate communication and transmission of targeting data. Last week on October 13, 2026, Ukrainian officials said that their forces suddenly lost access to Starshield communications inside Ukraine for drones moving over 100 miles per hour. That interruption halted Ukraine’s ability to guide its self-defense drones against incoming Russian missiles and drones and stopped Ukrainian attacks against Russian positions. That very night, Russia launched a record-setting coordinated drone and missile barrage at Ukrainian civilian energy infrastructure, using at least 39 ballistic and hypersonic missiles and 128 Shahed-type drones. The strikes killed at least three civilians, including a child, and injured at least 21. You have publicly asserted that limits to Starlink access are “decided by the U.S. military and ultimately POTUS.” Yet public reporting indicates that you personally brought the suggestion to President Trump to slow down Ukrainian communications through SpaceX’s Starlink systems, and U.S. government officials have reportedly indicated that you personally ordered the speed cap on Ukrainian military use of Starshield. Reports published yesterday indicate that President Trump called you to personally ask for restoration of Starshield capabilities and the President has asserted it was restored, and yet public reports indicate the system remains severely restricted for Ukraine’s defense forces. As a publicly traded company, SpaceX has a legal obligation to disclose to shareholders and the public material events that could affect your business model. The revelation that you personally wielded control over a foreign country’s military communications would require disclosure of elevated risks for corporate governance, geopolitical exposure, and potential adverse actions by foreign governments. We therefore ask for your responses to the following by October 31, 2026: 1. Have you or any SpaceX official at any point discussed limiting Starlink access for Ukrainian forces inside Russia or Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Trump, or any officials or representatives acting on their behalf? Please provide any such communications or records of communications. 2. Did you, SpaceX, or entities operating on SpaceX’s behalf reduce, shut off, or throttle Starlink access to Ukrainian forces this month—either inside Russia or Ukraine? If so, why and on whose orders? 3. Have you or any official at SpaceX communicated to Ukrainian officials any conditions or actions required for a full or partial resumption of Starlink access for Ukrainian defense forces? 4. Did President Trump or the White House, in fact, make a request to restore Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Starshield systems? Have those systems been fully restored? If so, when? And if not, why not? 5. Which specific individuals, agencies, or entities control the operational decisions from this day forward on restoring full and non-capped access to Starlink and Starshield communications systems for Ukrainian forces? ### Issues : Fighting Corruption National Security