US Has Repeatedly Asked Elon Musk’s SpaceX to Change Starlink Access, Report Says
The administrations of former US President Joe Biden and current President Donald Trump have repeatedly asked Elon Musk’s space company, SpaceX, to activate or restrict its Starlink satellite internet services in Ukraine, Iran and parts of the Middle East, according to a Reuters investigation published on October 24, 2026.
The report, which cites six former senior US officials familiar with the discussions, describes how Washington has sought to influence the availability of a privately operated satellite communications network for military, security and civilian purposes. The requests reportedly included restricting access for groups linked to Iran while expanding connectivity for Ukraine and people in Iran seeking internet access.
The revelations have renewed questions about the relationship between the US government and SpaceX, whose Starlink and Starshield satellite communications systems have become important to military operations and communications in conflict zones. They also highlight the growing role of private technology companies in decisions traditionally associated with national security and foreign policy.
Biden Administration Sought Restrictions on Certain Middle East Users
According to the Reuters report, officials in the Biden administration contacted SpaceX over concerns that satellite internet terminals had reached Iran-linked Houthi fighters in Yemen and Hezbollah members in Lebanon through intermediaries.
The officials reportedly shared intelligence with the company indicating that some terminals may have been diverted to these groups. Washington sought to have the relevant devices identified and their access disabled in certain cases.
The report describes concerns in October 2023, when fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensified along the Lebanon border. US intelligence officials reportedly informed the White House that individuals linked to Hezbollah might have obtained Starlink terminals.
Similar concerns reportedly emerged in 2024 regarding the Houthis in Yemen, during a period of US military action against the group. According to former officials cited by Reuters, the administration asked SpaceX to identify the terminals and deactivate them. At least some devices were reportedly disabled.
These requests reflected Washington’s concern that satellite communications technology could be used by groups it considered security threats. Satellite internet can provide connectivity in areas where traditional communications infrastructure is damaged, unavailable or restricted. That same capability, however, can also create difficulties for governments seeking to prevent armed groups from communicating.
The allegations concerning the use of Starlink terminals by these groups were attributed to former US officials and intelligence assessments cited in the report. They should not be interpreted as a claim that all users of the service in the region were affiliated with armed groups.
US Also Sought to Expand Starlink Access in Ukraine
The US government also reportedly encouraged SpaceX to expand Starlink availability for Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Satellite connectivity became important to Ukraine as Russian attacks damaged communications infrastructure and disrupted conventional internet access. Starlink has since been used by Ukrainian forces for communications and other military activities, while also supporting civilian connectivity in some areas.
According to former officials cited by Reuters, the Biden administration pressed SpaceX to increase the Ukrainian military’s use of the service after the invasion. The system’s role has made its availability a significant issue for Ukraine’s defence and its relationship with Western partners.
However, Starlink access has also been a source of disagreement. Musk has previously acknowledged limiting or declining certain requests connected to Ukraine’s military operations. In 2022, he said he refused a Ukrainian request to activate satellite coverage near Sevastopol in Crimea to support an operation against the Russian fleet, citing concerns about becoming involved in a major act of war.
These episodes have demonstrated that decisions made by a private satellite provider can affect military planning in an active conflict. They have also raised questions about how governments and companies should determine the conditions under which commercial communications systems can be used for military purposes.
Trump Administration Discussed Connectivity in Iran
The Reuters investigation also reported that the Trump administration discussed making Starlink available in Iran following US-Israeli strikes in 2025 and 2026. According to a former senior Trump administration official and another person familiar with the matter, the aim was to improve internet access and communications for anti-government protesters.
The report also describes an earlier request during the Biden administration to activate Starlink in Iran during protests that began in September 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian woman who had been detained over alleged violations of Iran’s dress rules.
One former official told Reuters that Starlink terminals were moved into Iran with assistance from the US administration. The official did not disclose how many devices were provided.
The Trump administration reportedly considered similar measures after the military strikes in 2025 and 2026. However, the report said neither the Trump administration nor SpaceX had publicly confirmed that the terminals discussed in those later efforts were activated.
Internet access in Iran has been a significant concern during periods of protests and government restrictions. Satellite services can potentially provide an alternative connection when conventional networks are disrupted, but the availability of such services depends on technical, legal and operational conditions.
The reported discussions illustrate how satellite connectivity has become part of wider geopolitical competition, with governments considering how communications technology might support civilians and influence events within other countries.
Recent Restrictions on Ukraine Raise Further Questions
The latest report comes amid a separate controversy over restrictions affecting Ukraine’s access to SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield systems.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that limitations on Starshield, the military-oriented satellite communications system, had affected the performance of Ukrainian military drones. He also said changes to Starlink service speeds had affected communications used for certain military activities, including defence against Russian missile attacks.
Reuters previously reported that an order to limit Starshield access came from within the White House, citing US and Western officials familiar with the matter. The officials did not identify who made the decision or who was responsible for implementing it.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio subsequently said decisions about Ukraine’s access to Starlink were a matter for SpaceX and Musk rather than the administration. Musk, meanwhile, said Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government and that limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately the president.
These differing statements have intensified debate over who controls access to satellite systems used in warfare. The distinction between Starlink, a commercial satellite internet service, and Starshield, its military-oriented counterpart, is important when assessing claims about restrictions and responsibility.
Concerns Over Reliance on Private Technology Companies
The reported requests highlight a wider policy challenge: governments increasingly depend on private companies for technologies that support national security, communications and military operations.
SpaceX operates a large satellite network that can provide internet connectivity in remote locations and conflict zones. Its systems have become particularly significant in Ukraine, where reliable communications are essential for civilian services and military coordination.
This dependence raises questions about accountability when a private company’s decisions affect a country’s military capabilities or a government’s foreign policy objectives. Lawmakers and security experts have called for greater clarity about the decision-making process and the extent of government oversight.
US Representative Jason Crow, a Democrat, called for transparency over recent changes to Ukraine’s satellite service, according to Reuters. Some European officials have also expressed concern about the absence of an immediate alternative to Starlink for certain military communications needs.
The issue extends beyond one company. As satellite internet, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and other commercial technologies become integrated into security operations, governments must balance national security requirements, commercial independence and the consequences for civilians and allies.
What Happens Next?
The Reuters report does not establish that every request made by US officials resulted in a change to Starlink service. Some requests reportedly led to terminals being deactivated, while the status of other proposals, particularly those concerning Iran, remains unclear.
Further questions are likely to focus on the process used to approve or deny government requests, the role of the Pentagon and White House, and the safeguards in place when commercial satellite systems are used in military settings.
For Ukraine, the immediate concern remains reliable access to satellite communications amid the ongoing war with Russia. In the Middle East, the issue involves preventing unauthorised use by armed groups while considering the role of connectivity for civilians.
The central finding of the report is that successive US administrations have sought changes to Starlink availability in multiple regions. The episode underscores how satellite communications have become both a strategic asset and a subject of debate over corporate power, government authority and international security.
