Reps. Sam Liccardo, Jimmy Panetta and Ro Khanna sent a letter Friday, Oct. 23, to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles seeking answers about who authorized the limits. The lawmakers wrote that Congress and the public should know who made the decision, and questioned whether President Donald Trump or SpaceX CEO Elon Musk directed it.

Ukraine uses Starshield for military communications, including medium-range drone strikes and the remote operation of interceptor drones intended to defend cities from Russian aerial attacks. Ukrainian officials say the service began losing connectivity on Oct. 14 and later operated at sharply reduced speeds, impairing defenses against Russian missiles and drones.

The lawmakers’ demand adds to bipartisan pressure on the administration. On Oct. 15, nine senators, led by Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Republican Thom Tillis of North Carolina, asked the Pentagon inspector general to investigate the changes. Four other Republican senators have also sought answers, and Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania has warned that agencies responsible could face funding consequences.

The dispute raises questions about oversight of a privately operated communications system used in a war zone and about who has authority over decisions that can affect Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. The lawmakers’ letter seeks to establish who ordered the restrictions and why.