Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Sunday demanded that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appear before the Senate to explain the recent slowdown of Starlink satellite service in Ukraine, a move that disrupted Ukrainian military operations. Speaking on NBC News's "Meet the Press," Schiff told host Kristen Welker that if Democrats regain control of the Senate, Hegseth "should be brought in," along with "anyone who has knowledge of what happened."
The California Democrat pointed to contradictory statements from President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, whose company SpaceX operates the Starlink network. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Musk ordered the reduction of service for Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink. Musk later acknowledged on his social platform X that he had directed the slowdown, saying, "Ukraine military violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people. That loophole was closed last week." He also noted that limits on "speed or usage" were at the discretion of "the U.S. military and ultimately POTUS."
Schiff seized on the conflicting narratives, saying, "You've got the president saying one thing, you've got Elon Musk saying another thing, you have them both saying different things at different times. Somebody is lying here. Maybe they're all lying in different ways, but we need to find out." He argued that the episode raises broader concerns about Musk's influence over U.S. national security, asserting, "The world's richest person shouldn't be controlling our national security interests."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told NBC News last week that his government believed Washington had directed SpaceX to limit satellite speeds. The restrictions specifically targeted Starlink-supported Ukrainian military drones, airplanes, and helicopters traveling faster than 100 mph, according to a source familiar with the matter. Zelensky said, "It was the message from American government to limit this speed, and technically SpaceX did it."
The Trump administration has denied ordering any restrictions, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed reports that Washington had cut off Ukraine's access to satellite services. However, reports indicate that restrictions on Starlink service in Ukraine have persisted, despite Trump's assurances to the contrary.
Schiff's call for testimony comes amid growing GOP concerns about Hegseth's leadership and the administration's handling of defense matters. The controversy also highlights the unusual role of a private citizen in shaping military communications, a point underscored by SpaceX investor Ross Gerber's recent warning that Starlink is "not reliable for national security for anybody but Trump."
Zelensky said that after direct talks with the Trump team, Starlink speeds have been restored, but the episode has raised questions about the reliability of such private infrastructure in wartime. Schiff emphasized the need for congressional oversight, noting that the Senate must get to the bottom of who made the decision and why.
The development also adds to the political pressure on Hegseth, who has faced scrutiny over other controversies, including an incident involving damage to a historic globe and a ban on Pentagon betting on military operations. Schiff's demand for testimony is likely to intensify the debate over the administration's Ukraine policy and the influence of private actors in national security.
