Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service has been installed at the White House, raising fresh concerns over potential conflicts of interest as the billionaire’s influence within the Trump administration continues to grow.
The New York Times reported that Starlink was introduced to “improve WiFi connectivity” at the White House complex, according to press secretary Karoline Leavitt. However, the installation led to a security alert when Christopher Stanley, a Musk employee, triggered an alarm while accessing the roof of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, adjacent to the White House.
Stanley is not only a Starlink representative but also works for the “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge), the entity through which Musk is overseeing drastic cuts to federal staffing and budgets at the request of President Trump.
The Secret Service had reportedly approved Stanley’s work but had not agreed on a specific time for the installation. When Stanley accessed the roof, a uniformed officer responded to the triggered alarm.
A Trump administration spokesperson later stated that the White House was aware of Doge’s plans to improve internet access and did not consider the incident a security breach. The Secret Service also confirmed it “collaborates closely” with Musk’s team.
Concerns over Musk’s proximity to the White House have been mounting, particularly given his business interests in defence, space, and telecommunications. The White House reportedly classified the Starlink installation as a “donation,” which was vetted by legal counsel. However, the decision has only intensified calls for oversight.
Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, have called for an investigation into potential corruption involving Starlink. The inquiry follows the Federal Aviation Administration’s cancellation of a $2.4 billion contract with Verizon in favour of using Musk’s satellite network to upgrade US air traffic control communications.
Musk has denied any conflicts of interest, while Trump has said that if any issues are found, they will be addressed.
Starlink is typically deployed by the US government for emergency response and providing internet access in remote locations. Cybersecurity experts have raised concerns about its use within existing government infrastructure.
Jake Williams, a cybersecurity expert at Hunter Strategy, told the New York Times that such installations were “super rare” in secure federal environments.
“It introduces another attack point,” Williams said. “Why introduce that risk?”
The Starlink network has already been installed at the General Services Administration, with officials insisting that only approved applications meeting government security standards are permitted. However, given Musk’s deepening role in government operations, questions over security and governance are unlikely to subside anytime soon.
