The Senate Armed Services Committee is currently investigating national security concerns raised by Elon Musk’s decision not to extend the private Starlink satellite network to aid a Ukrainian attack on Russian warships near the Crimean coast. Chairman Jack Reed has expressed his concerns regarding the situation, stating that the use of Starlink exposes serious national security liability issues.

The committee is actively pursuing this issue from all angles, looking into the broader satellite market, government contracting, and the significant role played by Elon Musk and his company. Reed and other senators have questioned why a government official was not involved in making this decision, emphasizing that no private citizen, including Musk, should have the final say in matters of U.S. national security.

Democratic senators on the committee, such as Jeanne Shaheen and Elizabeth Warren, have also been pressing the Defense Department for answers on why Musk, rather than a government official, was given the authority to decide when Ukraine can use the Starlink network. They plan to send a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to request further details on Starlink and Musk’s involvement in Ukraine.

The committee is currently in the process of gathering information and has not yet launched a formal investigation. Shaheen has raised concerns during classified briefings about control over the use of Starlink in Ukraine but has not received satisfactory answers from administration officials. It is important to note that at the time of Ukraine’s request, Musk was not receiving any U.S. funding for Starlink’s operations in Ukraine, although it does currently receive support from Pentagon funds.

It remains to be seen what the outcome of the Senate Armed Services Committee investigation will be. The committee’s focus on the security implications of Musk’s decision highlights the importance of government involvement in decisions that impact national security.