The Pentagon’s inspector general declined nine senators’ request to investigate reported Starlink and Starshield service restrictions affecting Ukraine, directing their questions to the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. The office said it might reconsider if new information emerged.
The October 15 letter, signed by five Democratic and four Republican senators, asked who directed or authorized the restrictions, whether they complied with applicable U.S. government contracts, what the Defense Department did in response, and whether they were connected to reported intelligence-sharing disruptions. The senators’ letter sets out those questions. NeoTeo previously covered the senators’ request; this article follows the inspector general’s decision.
Why the inspector general referred the questions
Federal law authorizes the Defense Department inspector general to initiate and supervise investigations the inspector general considers appropriate. It also directs the office to coordinate with military-department oversight units and avoid duplicating their work. The statute does not say that a congressional request alone requires a particular investigation. 5 U.S.C. § 408
The office said the Air Force and Space Force were better suited to address the senators’ questions. That was its stated reason for referring them.
What Ukraine reported about the service disruption
Ukraine said military drones lost satellite connectivity at speeds above 161 km/h (100 mph). The reported restriction was removed after about 10 days. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said Starshield was again working above 400 km/h (about 248 mph) on October 24.
Ukraine also posted about the reported connectivity disruption:
