Bipartisan Lawmakers Press DoD to Expand Starshield Access for Ukraine

Eight bipartisan, bicameral members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate have urged the Department of Defense (DoD) to address disruptions to Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Starshield satellite communications. In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the lawmakers called for an expansion of DoD’s existing Starshield contract and restoration of service without speed restrictions. The appeal follows reports of ongoing limitations to Starlink service in Ukraine and is an advocacy request—not a new solicitation, announced contract modification, or award. The lawmakers provided no contract value, procurement quantity, or implementation timeline.

The signatories were Representatives Jimmy Panetta, Brian Fitzpatrick, Marcy Kaptur, Mike Quigley, and Jim Costa, along with Senators Mark Kelly, Thom Tillis, and Elissa Slotkin. Their request focuses on operational service requirements that could inform DoD’s review of the existing arrangement: sufficient bandwidth and service levels, reliable access, geographic coverage needed for Ukraine’s lawful military operations—including over Russian territory—and uninterrupted service during any transition from commercial Starlink to government-contracted Starshield. The lawmakers argue that service decisions should not rest solely with a private provider when performance and availability have direct consequences for Ukraine’s defense.

The letter describes satellite connectivity as supporting command and control, intelligence sharing, battlefield communications, and unmanned-system operations. It warns that reduced connection speeds, restricted coverage, or interruptions could undermine Ukraine’s military effectiveness, provide Russian forces an operational advantage, extend the conflict, and put civilians at greater risk. For procurement teams, this frames the issue as a combination of contract scope, performance requirements, coverage parameters, capacity, and continuity planning. Any potential expansion would still require DoD action; the letter itself does not establish a new requirement or confirm that an expansion will proceed.

The lawmakers also urged DoD to evaluate its authorities under Title I of the Defense Production Act (DPA), which can allow the federal government to require companies to prioritize government orders. They asked that these authorities be considered alongside existing contractual mechanisms to help secure reliable bandwidth, service levels, and geographic coverage. This is a request to assess potential authority, not evidence that the DPA will be invoked. SpaceX, the Starshield service contractor and provider associated with Starlink, should watch for any DoD review of service continuity and contract terms, while other suppliers may monitor the issue for potential future requirements. The lawmakers cited significant U.S. and European investments in Ukraine’s defense and argued that preventable communications disruptions could undermine those investments.

• Eight lawmakers—five representatives and three senators—sent a bipartisan, bicameral request to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and DoD.
• They urged DoD to expand its existing Starshield contract and restore Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Starshield communications.
• The requested service conditions include unlimited speed, adequate geographic coverage, reliable access, and sufficient bandwidth and service levels.
• Lawmakers emphasized communications support for command and control, intelligence sharing, battlefield communications, and unmanned systems.
• They called for coverage supporting Ukraine’s lawful military operations, including operations over Russian territory.
• DoD was asked to ensure a transition from commercial Starlink to government-contracted Starshield occurs without service interruption.
• The letter asks DoD to assess Title I DPA authorities alongside existing contractual mechanisms; it does not say those authorities will be used.
• No contract value, solicitation, award, expansion decision, or procurement schedule was disclosed.
• Procurement teams can monitor potential reviews of service performance, capacity, coverage, and transition continuity; any follow-on action remains uncertain.