Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) on Wednesday sounded an alarm over the growing influence of a small circle of technology billionaires—including SpaceX CEO Elon Musk—on global security and international affairs. His remarks came after reports that Musk ordered a slowdown of Starlink satellite services used by Ukraine's military, a move that Ukrainian officials say hampered their defense against Russian forces.
“We’re in this world where, you know, five weird trillionaires are going to control the technology that guides and challenges our lives and livelihoods,” Himes said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” The Connecticut Democrat, who serves as the ranking member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, stressed the need to investigate the incident thoroughly.
“We’re going to get to the bottom of what exactly happened that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Ukrainians,” Himes said. “I don’t know if it was Elon. Every government entity I talk to says, ‘We didn’t dial it back.’ We’ll get to the bottom of that.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced over the weekend that Starlink services had been restored to normal operating speeds. However, the episode has reignited concerns about the outsized role that private business leaders play in defense and national security—a theme that some Democrats are now pushing to address with tech sector probes if they retake Congress.
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has called for Musk to testify under oath before Congress, writing on social media that “national security decisions should be made in our national security interests, and not based on the personal whim of an unstable executive.” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) echoed that sentiment, telling CNN that there is “enormous risk” if Musk is “dictating our foreign policy.”
Musk appeared to confirm his role in the slowdown, posting on X that Ukrainian forces had “violated Starlink terms of service” by using the system “for offensive drone strikes to kill people.” He argued that the U.S. government and President Trump have authority over the military-grade Starshield service, while Starlink remains a civilian product.
“SpaceX has done more to defend Ukraine than any private company on Earth BY FAR,” Musk wrote. “That said, I have nothing but UTTER CONTEMPT for the virtue-signaling evil warmongers who push for endless slaughter and offer no realistic solution to the conflict. May you burn in hell.”
The controversy highlights a broader debate about the concentration of power in the hands of a few tech magnates, a topic that Himes and other lawmakers have raised as they examine the implications for global stability. With democratic movements surging globally, the question of who controls critical infrastructure is becoming increasingly urgent.
Democrats are also weighing post-election legal battles that could shape the political landscape, but the Starlink affair underscores that technology and defense policy are now inseparable. As Himes put it, the influence of a handful of billionaires over life-and-death decisions is a “stark” reality that demands oversight.
