Susan Collins
Role at the time: U.S. senator from Maine; signatory to the joint October 15 letter
Statement summary
Susan Collins co-signed the October 15 letter asking the Defense Department inspector general to investigate reported communications and intelligence-sharing disruptions in Ukraine. The letter questions oversight of Starlink and Starshield services.
“Any restrictions on these capabilities, particularly without advance notification, raise serious questions about the Department of Defense’s contractual oversight and its responsibility to ensure continuity of essential services.”
The signed letter asks the Department of Defense inspector general to investigate satellite-service restrictions and, separately, intelligence-sharing and warning disruptions. It asks whether the disruptions were connected rather than establishing a common cause.
Why we used this label
The reference point is the restriction and its oversight. The signers criticize the lack of notice and question the Department of Defense response. Their investigation request leaves the cause and responsible officials unresolved.