Pentagon declines probe into Starlink slowdowns affecting Ukraine

The Pentagon's inspector general has declined a bipartisan request to investigate recent disruptions to Starlink and Starshield satellite internet services used by Ukraine, raising concerns among lawmakers about Elon Musk's influence over defense communications. Nine senators, including five Democrats and four Republicans, sought the probe after Ukrainian officials reported throttled connection speeds this month that hindered their ability to intercept Russian attack drones. The inspector general's office said Tuesday the Air Force was better positioned to address the concerns, a decision Senator Jeanne Shaheen called "preoccupying" given contradictory explanations from the Trump administration and SpaceX. The refusal highlights longstanding Capitol Hill worries about Musk's control over the essential wartime communication system, which partly motivated the creation of the military-grade Starshield. Musk has acknowledged reducing Starlink capacity in Ukraine, citing terms-of-use violations, while the White House has offered conflicting accounts of who authorized the restrictions.