1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing to follow up on my October 15 letter concerning the restrictions imposed on Ukraine’s access to Starshield. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statements on October 17 have raised even more serious questions about the administration’s actions and its willingness to provide an accurate account of those actions. On October 17, Rubio told reporters that Ukraine does not currently have access to Starshield and that providing access remains under discussion. He also denied that anyone in the White House ordered restrictions on the service. But Ukraine DID have access to Starshield. Ukrainian forces were already using the technology for military operations, including interceptor drones defending Ukrainian cities against Russian attacks. That capability was suddenly restricted, disrupting Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. Furthermore, Reuters reported on October 15 that two American officials and one Western official confirmed that the order to restrict Starshield originated inside the White House. Pentagon leadership reportedly received instructions to slow the service. How does Secretary Rubio reconcile his statements with these reports? If Ukraine previously had operational access to Starshield and that access was restricted, who made that decision? Who authorized it, and why? There is also a critical distinction between restricting Ukraine’s ability to conduct strikes inside Russia and interfering with its ability to defend its own territory and civilian population. The reported restrictions affected defensive operations, not merely offensive strikes against Russian infrastructure. I am demanding that Congress exercise its oversight authority and obtain answers to these questions. I want to know who ordered the restrictions, what justification was provided, whether Congress was informed, and whether Ukraine’s defensive capabilities have been fully restored. I also want Congress to investigate whether these restrictions were connected to the administration’s efforts to discourage Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure while simultaneously easing economic pressure on Russia. This is not a minor diplomatic disagreement. These decisions can directly affect Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian drones and protect civilians from attack. Americans deserve to know whether our government deliberately interfered with that defense and, if so, why. Rubio’s October 17 statements make an independent congressional investigation more urgent, not less. I expect my elected representatives to demand answers, insist on accountability, and act to ensure that American decisions are not making Ukrainian civilians more vulnerable to Russian attacks.