US administrations sought control over Starlink access
The US government has repeatedly approached Elon Musk’s SpaceX over the availability of its Starlink satellite communications service in conflict zones and politically sensitive regions, according to a Reuters investigation published on October 24.
The report, based on interviews with six former senior US officials and other people familiar with the discussions, describes requests made during the administrations of Joe Biden and Donald Trump to switch the service on or off in different locations.
Under Biden, officials reportedly asked SpaceX to restrict access for groups suspected of using Starlink terminals in parts of the Middle East, while also seeking to expand the service’s availability in Ukraine and Iran.
The Trump administration reportedly made similar requests concerning Iran following US-Israeli military strikes in 2025 and 2026. According to people cited by Reuters, the objective was to improve internet access and communications for anti-government protesters.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, and the reported discussions have not all been publicly confirmed by the US government or SpaceX.
The disclosures come amid renewed controversy over restrictions affecting Ukraine’s use of SpaceX satellite services. They have raised broader questions about the extent to which a private company can influence military communications and the implementation of government foreign policy.
Ukraine faces disruption to critical satellite communications
The latest controversy centres on restrictions affecting Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Starshield, two satellite communications services associated with SpaceX.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that access to Starshield, the military-focused system, had been deliberately limited, affecting the performance of Ukrainian military drones. He also reported reduced Starlink speeds, which Ukraine uses for several military activities, including communications supporting its defence against Russian missile attacks.
Reuters has previously reported that the order to restrict Starshield came from within the White House. The Trump administration acknowledged the slowdown but had not publicly confirmed whether it directed the change.
The White House referred Reuters to President Donald Trump’s remarks on Friday. Trump said he had not discussed Ukraine’s Starlink access problems with Musk and added that he would address the matter if a problem existed.
Ukraine has called for the restoration of normal service.
Halyna Yusypiuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, said the country’s immediate priority was to restore normal operating speeds as quickly as possible, stressing that lives depended on the service.
SpaceX did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment on the latest restrictions. Musk, however, wrote on social media that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government, adding that decisions on usage limits ultimately rest with the US military and the president.
His statement highlights an important distinction between Starlink, SpaceX’s commercial satellite internet service, and Starshield, which is designed for government and military applications.
Why Starlink matters to Ukraine’s military
Starlink has become a critical communications tool for Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The satellite network allows Ukrainian forces to maintain connectivity in areas where conventional telecommunications infrastructure has been damaged, disrupted or become unreliable.
Military units use the service to communicate across the front line, coordinate operations and exchange information. It also supports certain drone operations by providing connections between aircraft and remote operators.
Starshield receivers are used in some Ukrainian military systems, including drones operating in areas where conventional communications are vulnerable to interference. Their role can include maintaining links between drones and remote pilots.
The ability of satellite systems to provide communications beyond the reach of damaged terrestrial networks has made them particularly important during the conflict.
Ukraine has also relied on Starlink connectivity for some defensive operations, including communications associated with responding to Russian missile attacks.
Ukrainian officials and military users have argued that there is currently no readily available alternative offering the same combination of coverage, capacity and operational flexibility.
That dependence means changes to access, speed or coverage can have consequences extending beyond ordinary internet connectivity.
The recent restrictions have therefore prompted concern in Ukraine and among some of its European partners about the risks of relying on infrastructure controlled by a private company.
US lawmakers question dependence on private companies
The controversy has also triggered questions in Washington about the relationship between private technology providers and national security.
Democratic Representative Jason Crow called for greater clarity about the changes to Ukraine’s satellite access.
“Unelected billionaires and private corporations should not decide what is in the best interest of America’s national security,” Crow said, according to Reuters.
His remarks reflect concerns that decisions affecting critical military infrastructure should remain subject to clear government oversight and accountability.
SpaceX’s position is unusual because its satellite networks serve both commercial and strategic purposes. Starlink provides internet connectivity to consumers, businesses and institutions, while Starshield supports government and military requirements.
The company’s systems have become important to US national security and to the operations of American allies. As a result, decisions about access can have consequences for military planning, diplomatic relationships and the conduct of conflicts.
Armand Musey, president of satellite industry consultancy Summit Ridge Group, told Reuters that Musk’s position raises questions about how business decisions and government policy interact.
Musey questioned whether decisions concerning satellite access reflect Musk’s personal preferences or other influences.
The broader issue is whether governments can maintain sufficient oversight of privately operated infrastructure when that infrastructure becomes essential to national security.
Biden administration sought restrictions on Middle East access
According to the former officials cited by Reuters, the Biden administration worked with SpaceX on several occasions to prevent groups linked to US adversaries from using Starlink.
The discussions reportedly focused on concerns that satellite terminals had reached Iran-linked Houthi militants in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon through intermediaries.
Officials allegedly shared intelligence with SpaceX indicating that diverted Starlink terminals were being used by individuals associated with the groups.
In October 2023, during fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, intelligence officials reportedly informed the White House that people linked to Hezbollah might have obtained access to Starlink terminals.
Similar concerns arose in 2024 over the Houthis in Yemen during a US air campaign against the Iran-linked group.
The Biden administration contacted SpaceX and asked the company to identify the terminals and deactivate them, according to the former officials. Two of the officials said at least some terminals were subsequently switched off.
The report does not establish that every suspected terminal was identified or deactivated.
The episodes illustrate how satellite connectivity can become a security concern when commercial hardware is diverted to groups that governments regard as threats.
They also demonstrate the practical role SpaceX has played in implementing restrictions requested by US authorities.
Washington also pressed SpaceX to expand service in Ukraine
While US officials reportedly sought to restrict Starlink access in certain areas of the Middle East, they also pushed SpaceX to expand the service’s availability for Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Two former officials told Reuters that the Biden administration pressed the company to increase the network’s use by the Ukrainian military.
The requests reflected the importance of reliable communications to Ukraine’s defence and the limitations of conventional infrastructure during the war.
However, the relationship between SpaceX and Ukraine has not always been straightforward.
Reuters reported that Musk ordered SpaceX personnel in 2022 to cut Starlink coverage in areas Ukrainian forces were attempting to retake, surprising officials at the White House.
Musk has also publicly said he refused a Ukrainian request to activate the satellite network in Sevastopol, a port city in Crimea, to support an attack on Russia’s fleet. He said he was concerned about becoming complicit in a major act of war.
These incidents have contributed to concerns about the influence of a private company’s decisions over the operational capabilities of a country fighting a war.
The latest restrictions have renewed debate over whether Ukraine and its allies need alternative satellite communications systems that are less dependent on a single provider.
Starlink activation in Iran under Biden and Trump
The Reuters report also describes efforts by both administrations to make Starlink available in Iran.
During protests that began in September 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, the Biden administration reportedly asked SpaceX to activate the service to help people access the internet.
Amini had been arrested over an alleged violation of Iran’s rules concerning the wearing of the hijab and later died in custody. Her death triggered nationwide demonstrations and a broader movement against the country’s political and social restrictions.
One former official told Reuters that Starlink terminals were moved into Iran with the administration’s assistance. The official did not disclose how many terminals were transferred.
The Trump administration reportedly pursued a similar effort following US-Israeli strikes in Iran in June 2025 and again in February 2026.
A former senior Trump official and another person familiar with the matter said the administration discussed with Musk and SpaceX the delivery and activation of terminals to improve internet access and communications for anti-government protesters.
Neither the Trump administration nor SpaceX had publicly confirmed that those terminals were activated, according to the report.
The Wall Street Journal reported in February that the US government had sent thousands of Starlink terminals into Iran.
Iran’s delegation to the United Nations did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
The reported efforts illustrate how satellite internet can be viewed by governments as a tool for maintaining communications during periods of political unrest, particularly when authorities restrict conventional internet access.
At the same time, such activity can become entangled with geopolitical tensions and disputes over sovereignty, security and foreign intervention.
SpaceX’s government ties extend beyond commercial internet
SpaceX has maintained relationships with US government agencies involving national security, satellite operations and export controls.
In a 2024 submission to the US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, the company said it worked closely with government agencies to obtain export authorisations where required and to protect technology in support of US national security and foreign policy objectives.
Such cooperation is not unusual for companies that provide sensitive technology or services to governments. However, the scale of Starlink’s role in Ukraine and the strategic importance of Starshield have brought the relationship into sharper focus.
The distinction between commercial and military services is particularly important. Starlink is a commercial network, whereas Starshield is designed for government applications and is described by Musk as being under US government ownership and control.
Even so, the wider SpaceX ecosystem remains strategically significant because satellite infrastructure can support both civilian connectivity and military operations.
The latest controversy has exposed the difficulties governments face when critical capabilities depend on private operators whose systems may be difficult to replace quickly.
Europe considers the need for independent capabilities
The restrictions affecting Ukraine have also unsettled officials in Europe, according to the report.
Some European officials argue that the continent needs to develop its own military satellite communications capabilities to reduce dependence on systems operated by companies outside its direct control.
The challenge is that creating a comparable network requires substantial investment, technical expertise, satellite capacity and ground infrastructure. Such capabilities cannot necessarily be developed or deployed quickly enough to provide an immediate replacement for Starlink.
The issue extends beyond Ukraine. As satellite communications become more important to military operations, governments must consider how to maintain access during political disagreements, changes in commercial policy or disruptions to service.
For European countries, developing independent capabilities could provide greater control over critical communications infrastructure. However, the cost, complexity and time required to build a viable alternative remain significant obstacles.
A wider debate over technology and foreign policy
The revelations about repeated US requests to SpaceX underline the growing role of private technology companies in international security.
Governments increasingly depend on commercial providers for communications, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and other technologies that can shape military and diplomatic outcomes.
The Starlink case raises a particular concern because the service can be activated, restricted or modified in ways that directly affect people and organisations operating in conflict zones.
For Ukraine, reliable satellite connectivity remains an operational necessity. For Washington, the ability to coordinate with SpaceX can help support allies while restricting access by groups it considers security threats. For Musk and SpaceX, the challenge involves balancing commercial operations, contractual obligations and government requests.
The central question is how decisions over such critical systems should be governed, particularly when they affect the security interests of several countries.
As governments continue to rely on privately operated satellite networks, the debate over accountability, oversight and alternative infrastructure is likely to become increasingly important.
