Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rep. Shontel Brown, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, sent a letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Stephen Ehikian, Acting Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), and Joshua Fisher, White House Director of Office Administration, requesting documents and information as to how GSA is ensuring that any new usage of Starlink technologies is secure and will not provide financial benefits or special access to Elon Musk in violation of federal ethics rules.
“We write to express our deep concerns and request clarification regarding the recent installation of Starlink’s satellite internet service at the White House complex, the General Services Administration (GSA), and potentially other federal government agencies. Given Elon Musk’s dual role as the owner of Starlink and the apparent leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump Administration, the expanded use of Starlink across the federal government raises significant ethical, security, and regulatory implications that warrant immediate attention,” wrote the Ranking Members.
Although a small number of federal agencies were using Starlink technology prior to Mr. Musk assuming a role in government, public reporting indicates that Starlink has been “donated” and installed in at least two additional Executive Branch divisions since Mr. Musk began leading DOGE.
GSA reportedly installed new Starlink technology in the early weeks of the Trump Administration for use by Mr. Musk’s DOGE associates. More recently, reporting indicates that Starlink is newly accessible across the White House complex after Starlink “donated” its services to the White House, which brings with it potential cybersecurity and national security risks.
“Donations such as this raise considerable red flags as to whether Mr. Musk is using his position in the federal government to benefit his companies. His dual position as the recipient of federal contracts and a White House advisor creates a troubling and obvious conflict of interest, raising the risk of undue influence and potential misuse of federal contracts for personal or corporate gain,” concluded Ranking Members Brown and Connolly. “We respectfully urge your offices to conduct an immediate review of any actions taken or contemplated regarding integration of Starlink services into White House and agency operations and to provide clarity regarding the steps you have taken and/or plan to take to ensure compliance with all relevant IT security, procurement, and ethics policies.”
The Ranking Members requested documents and information from the White House and GSA by April 21.
Click here to read the letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, GSA Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian, and White House Director of Office Administration Joshua Fisher.
