US has for years asked Musk to alter Starlink service in Ukraine, Middle East, sources say
SPCX•The Biden and Trump administrations repeatedly asked SpaceX to switch Starlink on or off in several countries, six former officials said. Requests included limiting access for Iran-backed groups, supporting Ukraine and activating service in Iran after US-Israeli strikes in 2025 and 2026.
1. Requests across administrations
Former officials said the Biden administration asked SpaceX to disable Starlink terminals reportedly used by the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon, while also seeking expanded service for Ukraine and internet access in Iran during protests in 2022. The Trump administration discussed activating Starlink in Iran after US-Israeli strikes in June 2025 and February 2026, according to a former senior official and a person familiar with the matter.
2. Ukraine access in focus
The latest dispute over limits on Ukraine's Starlink and Starshield access has raised questions about the US government's reliance on SpaceX. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said restrictions interfered with military drones, while President Donald Trump said he would address any problem. Musk said Starshield systems are controlled by the US government and that limits are decided by the US military and ultimately the president.
3. Terminals and oversight
Former officials said Biden administration officials shared intelligence with SpaceX about terminals allegedly reaching the Houthis and Hezbollah and asked the company to identify and deactivate them; at least some were shut off. Officials also helped move Starlink terminals into Iran in 2022, while neither the Trump administration nor SpaceX has publicly confirmed that terminals discussed after the 2025 and 2026 strikes were activated.
