Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) has vowed to hold any U.S. officials responsible for limiting Ukraine’s access to Starshield fully accountable through congressional oversight.
Fitzpatrick revealed he would be speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later this week about the country’s loss of access to Starshield, the military version of SpaceX’s (SPACEX) Starlink internet service.
The Republican congressman announced the planned discussion in a post to social media, outlining several agenda items including Ukraine’s defense situation and President Trump’s recent decision to waive U.S. sanctions on Russia.
Fitzpatrick made clear he intended to use every tool available to him in Congress to push back against any effort to restrict Ukraine’s use of the military satellite network.
“I will be assuring President Zelenskyy that anyone who attempts to limit the use of Starshield for Ukraine will be fully investigated and will be held fully accountable, to include public congressional oversight hearings, and immediate harsh and punitive budget cuts to any responsible agency or agency head,” he wrote on X.
The congressman’s remarks come as Ukrainian President Zelensky doubled down on accusations that Elon Musk’s Starlink was disabled during a Russian missile attack, inhibiting Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.
Musk responded by directing blame toward President Trump and the Department of Defense, arguing the government-owned portion of the Starlink network, known as Starshield, was under military control.
“Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” Musk wrote on X, distancing his commercial company from the decision-making chain.
Musk also clarified the distinction between his private business and the government contract platform, stating, “Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX.”
Starshield is a military platform built on Starlink technology that was reportedly subjected to speed limitations in Ukraine on October 14, raising serious concerns among Ukrainian allies in Congress.
The episode has intensified debate in Washington over who controls critical satellite infrastructure during active conflict zones and what responsibilities come with those decisions.
Fitzpatrick’s proposed punitive budget measures signal a willingness among some Republican lawmakers to challenge executive branch agencies directly over military aid decisions affecting Ukraine.
