Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) on Sunday said that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk having the power to unilaterally shut off Starlink satellite service to Ukraine is “beyond disturbing,” and he is pressing the Trump administration for answers.
Appearing on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Crow was asked by host Margaret Brennan whether an “unelected official can have such unilateral influence over our national security policy.” Crow responded that it “appears to be the case,” and that he, along with House Armed Services Committee ranking member Adam Smith and Intelligence Committee ranking member Jim Himes, had sent a letter to President Trump demanding an explanation.
“It cannot and should not be the case that a tech oligarch, a private citizen, who has the most control over our national security, who is unaccountable, who is unelected, with zero transparency, is making life-and-death decisions on the battlefield, and systems that our service members and our partners and allies rely upon,” Crow said. “It should not be the case.”
The Colorado Democrat said the Trump administration allowed this situation to develop and vowed that Democrats will “try to stop it.” His remarks come after Musk wrote on his social platform X that Starlink had been slowed because the “Ukraine military violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people.” He added that the “loophole” was closed last week.
The slowdown affected Ukrainian military access to Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink, which impacted drones, airplanes, and helicopters traveling over 100 mph. Musk maintained that the U.S. government controls Starshield and that “what they decide to do is up to them.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday that satellite links had been restored and thanked “all Americans” and partners, including U.S. lawmakers, the State Department, the media, and Trump. However, reports indicate that some restrictions persist despite the president’s assurances.
The controversy has sparked calls for investigation from Democrats. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that if Democrats regain the Senate, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should testify about the slowdown. Schiff also noted the conflicting statements from Trump and Musk, saying, “You’ve got the president saying one thing, you’ve got Elon Musk saying another thing, you have them both saying different things at different times. Somebody is lying here. Maybe they’re all lying in different ways, but we need to find out.” Trump has denied ordering any restrictions on Starlink’s use in Ukraine.
This episode underscores the growing concern among lawmakers about the outsized role of private tech billionaires in U.S. foreign policy and national security. Ukraine says speeds have been restored after direct talks, but the incident has raised fundamental questions about accountability and the chain of command.
Critics argue that allowing a single private citizen to control critical military infrastructure sets a dangerous precedent, especially as the U.S. and its allies rely increasingly on commercial space assets. The situation also highlights the strains in the U.S.-Ukraine relationship under the current administration. As Democrats push for hearings and answers, the episode is likely to become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over national security oversight.
