NYT: US Senators Threaten to Stall Trump Nominees Over Starlink Limits in Ukraine
American senators have warned the White House they will withhold votes on confirming nominees until the Trump administration restores the communications relied on by Ukrainian troops, The New York Times reports, citing sources.
Three people familiar with the discussions told the paper that Republican and Democratic senators told senior White House officials they would block consideration of Trump's pending nominees until the administration restores the critical satellite communications capabilities used by Ukraine's military. The move, which has not been officially announced, would deepen the bipartisan confrontation over the White House's increasingly soft approach to Russia, the NYT writes.
Timing before the midterms
The standoff would play out during the Congress session remaining before the current term ends, scheduled for after the midterm elections, when Republicans are expected to try to confirm dozens of Trump nominees. The position underlines widening differences between the White House and Congress over Russia, with even senior Republicans increasingly ready to challenge Trump's positions. Lawmakers also pointed to a possible shift after the midterms, when Democrats may take control of Congress and members of both parties will likely use their leverage and oversight powers more forcefully.
Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, who is fighting to keep his seat in a highly competitive district, threatened to push for the dismissal of US officials responsible for the network disruptions and for cuts to their agencies' budgets, saying he doubts the problems were accidental.
Interceptors and possible probes
A Senate aide told the NYT the Foreign Relations Committee has approved several deliveries of critical air-defense interceptors that have still not reached Ukraine, raising concern about delays in aid already approved by Congress. Staffers are also weighing investigations of SpaceX over the satellite disruptions and have asked companies involved in Russian diesel operations to preserve documents in case of congressional inquiries, the source added.
How we got here
On Friday evening Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the speed limits on Starlink terminals in Ukraine remain in force, as we reported. The Wall Street Journal wrote that Elon Musk ordered Starlink slowed, and that Trump allegedly phoned Musk asking him to lift the limits on the military version — see our earlier report. Trump said on the evening of 22 October that Musk had already lifted the limits; Ukraine's defense ministry said it was still recording disruptions at the front.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis is launching an inquiry into the Pentagon's role, and Democratic Sen. Chris Coons asked SpaceX who decided to restrict Starlink in Ukraine and why. A bipartisan group of nearly two dozen House members led by Joe Wilson also urged Trump to ask Musk to allow Starlink to be used to hunt missile launchers in Russia.
More in our politics section.