Since Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) took charge, USAID has faced intense scrutiny, with speculation about its possible dissolution and merger with the U.S. State Department. Interestingly, at the time Musk was targeting USAID, the agency was investigating one of his companies, Starlink. This investigation centered on the public-private partnership between Starlink and the Ukrainian government, specifically how Ukraine utilized the Starlink satellite terminals provided by USAID. The objective was to assess how effectively the terminals were employed and how USAID monitored their use. See the Gizmodo article on Musk and his targeting USAID.
What isn’t highlighted by many is just how profitable Russia’s illegal invasion and ongoing conflict with Ukraine have been for Musk’s Starlink.
USAID’s Office of Inspector General launched this probe in May 2024.
The announcement was crystal clear:
May 14, 2024
PROJECT ANNOUNCEMENT: Inspection of USAID’s Oversight of Starlink Terminals Provided to the Government of Ukraine
USAID Office of Inspector General, Inspections and Evaluations Division, is initiating an inspection of USAID’s oversight of Starlink satellite terminals provided to the Government of Ukraine.
Our objectives are to determine how (1) the Government of Ukraine used the USAID-provided Starlink terminals, and (2) USAID monitored the Government of Ukraine’s use of USAID-provided Starlink terminals.
Musk’s derogatory remarks about USAID, calling it “evil” and a “criminal organization,” coincided with this investigation, raising questions about his motivations. Although the current status of the Starlink investigation remains unclear, it underscores the complexities surrounding this partnership during the conflict in Ukraine.
Starlink’s profits
Perhaps Musk’s accountants in DOGE should be looking at the dollars that Starlink has pocketed from the Department of Defense in providing assistance to Ukraine and ask why he is charging anything at all, given his patriotic fervor. Musk’s narrative continues to be muddied, as Starlink’s involvement in Ukraine provided crucial communication support; it also resulted in substantial financial gains for SpaceX, whose global revenue is is projected to reach $11.8 billion in 2025, highlighting the ethical concerns about profiting from a conflict situation.
What is clear is that Musk has no respect for protocol or the rules surrounding access to classified information—see what the Guardian highlighted re Musk vis-a-vis USAID.
