WASHINGTON | October 24, 2026 | The US government has repeatedly asked SpaceX, the company led by Elon Musk, to activate or restrict its Starlink satellite internet service in different countries, according to accounts by former US officials, highlighting the growing role of private technology companies in military communications and foreign policy.
The reported requests under the administrations of former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump included efforts to expand access in Ukraine, prevent Iran-backed armed groups from using satellite terminals in Yemen and Lebanon, and provide internet connectivity in Iran during periods of political unrest, according to a report published by Reuters and carried by other news outlets. The accounts have not been independently confirmed in full by the US government.
The revelations come amid controversy over recent restrictions affecting Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Starshield, a military-oriented satellite communications system controlled by the US government. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the limitations disrupted military drone operations, while Musk maintained that decisions on Starshield’s speed and usage rest with the US military and ultimately the US president.
Starlink has become an important communications link for Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Its satellite connections have helped maintain communications where conventional networks have been damaged or disrupted. The system is also used for military coordination and drone operations, although commercial Starlink and government-controlled Starshield are distinct services.
According to the former officials cited in the reporting, the Biden administration worked with SpaceX to identify and deactivate terminals suspected of reaching Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi movement in Yemen through intermediaries. Officials also reportedly sought to expand Starlink access in Ukraine and facilitate internet connectivity in Iran during protests that followed the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by Iranian authorities over alleged violations of the country’s dress rules.
The Trump administration reportedly discussed activating Starlink in Iran following US-Israeli strikes in 2025 and 2026, with the aim of helping people access communications during unrest. However, neither the administration nor SpaceX has publicly confirmed that the terminals discussed in those instances were activated.
The US Space Force identifies resilient commercial and military satellite communications as an important capability for military operations, including command and control, logistics and communications in contested environments. The US government has also established regulatory frameworks governing space technology and exports to protect national security and foreign policy interests.
The dispute over Ukraine has renewed concerns about the extent to which governments and military forces depend on a private company for critical communications. It has also intensified calls among some European officials for greater independent satellite capabilities, reducing the risk that changes in a commercial provider’s service could affect military operations.
The broader question remains how governments should oversee essential communications infrastructure when private companies operate systems that have become strategically important during armed conflicts and political crises.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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