Lawmakers in both parties push back on reported Ukraine aid curbs and vow legislation
Democrats and some Republicans in Congress said this week they will try to pass legislation to force the Trump administration to restore support for Ukraine, after reports of disrupted Starlink service, interrupted intelligence sharing and delayed air defense interceptors, Roll Call reported. No bill has passed; the proposals are plans for now.
What set it off: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with a bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers on Monday, participants said, according to Roll Call. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., wrote on X that Zelenskyy “confirmed ongoing Starlink disruptions, reported interruptions to critical U.S. intelligence sharing and raised concerns about delays in air defense interceptors.” Axios and The Hill also reported on the call. The White House said there had been no changes to intelligence sharing, the BBC reported.
What lawmakers propose: The top Democrats on the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees, Reps. Adam Smith, Gregory Meeks and Jim Himes, said they would advance legislation to “compel” the president to give Ukraine the “security, economic, and intelligence support” it needs, Roll Call reported. They also back a “fix” to the recently enacted Graham sanctions law so it no longer gives the president the broad waiver authority he used this month.
Calls for investigations: On Oct. 15, nine senators from both parties asked the Pentagon inspector general to investigate the reported restrictions on Starlink and Starshield, according to Roll Call and a letter released by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio, called for a congressional investigation, and four Democratic senators wrote to a SpaceX executive asking for an explanation, Roll Call reported.
What it means: Congress can pass laws that direct spending and set conditions, but a bill would need to clear both chambers and survive a possible veto. The Senate is in a pre-election state work period with no floor votes scheduled, according to Capitol Brief. Roll Call reported that action could come in the lame-duck session or the next Congress, depending on the November results.
Sources
- Roll Call — Bipartisan pushback swells against Trump's Ukraine moves
- Axios — Zelensky lobbies senators to press White House on alleged intel and weapons curbs
- The Hill — Ukraine lacks full Starshield and intelligence access, Zelensky tells Senate
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee — Senators' letter to the Pentagon inspector general (PDF)
- BBC News — Ukrainians dying because US restricting intelligence sharing, Zelensky adviser tells BBC
- Capitol Brief — Tuesday, October 20, 2026