The Senate Armed Services Committee is conducting an investigation into national security issues surrounding Elon Musk’s decision not to extend the private Starlink satellite network to assist Ukraine in an attack on Russian warships near the Crimean coast. Committee Chairman Jack Reed expressed concerns over the use of Starlink, stating that it exposed serious national security liability issues.

The committee is actively examining the situation from various perspectives. Musk’s SpaceX, a major US contractor, is responsible for launching spy satellites for the Defense Department and operating the Starlink network. However, the committee questions the role Musk and his company have played in this matter, as well as the decision-making process.

Reed and other Democratic senators on the committee, such as Jeanne Shaheen and Elizabeth Warren, have raised questions about why the decision was made by a private citizen rather than a government official. They believe that decisions regarding US national security cannot be solely determined by Elon Musk.

Shaheen and Warren plan to send a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, requesting information about Starlink and Musk’s involvement in Ukraine. The committee is currently in the process of gathering information and has not initiated a formal investigation. Shaheen has previously expressed her frustration with the lack of answers regarding control over the use of Starlink in Ukraine, despite asking administration officials during classified briefings.

It should be noted that at the time of Ukraine’s initial request, Musk was not receiving any US funding for Starlink’s operations in Ukraine. However, it is now supported by Pentagon funds.

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s investigation aims to address the broader satellite market, government contracting, and the impact of Musk and SpaceX in this realm.