Pentagon watchdog skips Starlink Ukraine probe

The Pentagon’s independent watchdog office declined to launch a formal investigation into the recent service interruptions of Starlink and Starshield satellites in Ukraine. Platte Moring, the head of the Inspector General’s office, told lawmakers that the issue falls under existing contract terms. He argued that the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force are the proper channels to resolve the matter. Both services hold jurisdiction over the military’s agreement with SpaceX.

The decision stems from a request by a bipartisan group of nine senators. They asked for an independent review after reports emerged that the satellite networks faced limits during Russian attacks on Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the limits were a decision made by the U.S. government. U.S. and Ukrainian officials later confirmed that service levels returned to normal conditions.

Mollie Halpern, the spokesperson for the Department of Defense Inspector General, explained the office’s reasoning in a statement. She said the team carefully considered the congressional request and determined the Defense Department should handle it directly. Halpern added that the office might reconsider if new information appears. The statement noted that the specific matters raised were best addressed by the department itself.

The referral process involved multiple internal steps before the final decision. The Inspector General’s office initially told the senators to direct their questions to the under secretary for policy. That office then responded that the disruptions were a contractual issue. It recommended that the Air Force and Space Force take the lead on any further inquiry.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat and part of the original group of nine, expressed concern over the refusal to proceed. She noted that the Trump administration and SpaceX have offered conflicting accounts of the events. Shaheen argued that the disruptions weakened Ukraine’s defenses and placed American personnel at risk. She urged the Inspector General to conduct a full investigation to determine responsibility and prevent similar issues in the future.