Elon Musk is making his presence felt in the Trump administration as an adviser and de facto leader of the Department of Government Efficiency, but the billionaire’s Starlink system is also leaving a growing mark on the federal government.
The New York Times reports that Starlink has been installed in the White House to boost the availability of internet throughout the complex. This installation is the latest example of the government adopting Starlink, as its use has been considered across multiple agencies.
Starlink is a satellite internet service that has been frequently used in places where internet service can be difficult to access, such as remote countries or war zones. T-Mobile and United Airlines have announced partnerships with Starlink in recent months to improve their internet and communications offerings. Starlink has also been used by Ukraine during its war against Russia.
The Department of Defense had contracts with SpaceX for the Starlink service prior to Trump’s return to office in January. In 2023, Space Force awarded Starlink a $70 million contract for its internet services.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which has prioritized revamping its air traffic controller systems following several aviation incidents this year, began testing Starlink terminals for facilities in New Jersey and Alaska.
A report from NBC News earlier this month found that the General Services Administration has set up Starlink, and various other agencies were also exploring the possibility of doing so.
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Musk’s growing footprint in the executive branch, considering the private companies he helms, including Tesla and SpaceX, has drawn scrutiny from Democrats over fears of conflicts of interest and corruption.
A group of Democratic Senate and House of Representatives members sent a letter to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles earlier this week to express their concern over the alleged “conflicts of interest and corruption” in the Trump White House.
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