U.S. administrations repeatedly asked SpaceX to toggle Starlink access in multiple regions, sources say

Former senior U.S. officials disclosed that both the Biden administration and President Donald Trump's administration have repeatedly requested SpaceX to turn its Starlink satellite service on or off in various countries. During Joe Biden's term, the government asked SpaceX to deactivate the service to hinder Iranian-backed militias in Yemen and Lebanon, and to activate it to provide internet access for the Ukrainian military and inside Iran, according to four of the officials.

President Donald Trump's administration later asked Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, to make Starlink available in Iran after U.S.-Israeli strikes in 2025 and 2026, aiming to support anti-government protesters, a former senior Trump official said.

The recent throttling of Ukraine's access to the military-grade Starshield system has drawn criticism from Ukrainian officials and U.S. lawmakers. Ukrainian embassy spokesperson Halyna Yusypiuk said restoring normal speeds is essential for civilian safety. Representative Jason Crow called for clarification, warning that reliance on private companies for national security decisions is risky.

SpaceX did not comment, but Musk posted that Starshield systems are owned by the U.S. government and that any speed or usage limits are decided by the U.S. military and ultimately the president.

Analysts noted that the close coordination between the U.S. government and SpaceX reflects an unprecedented reliance on a private firm for foreign-policy implementation, including efforts to prevent Iranian-linked Houthis and Hezbollah from using Starlink terminals and to expand service for allies such as Ukraine.