Press Release
March 25, 2025
WASHINGTON – Today, State Democracy Defenders Fund (SDDF) submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) calling for transparency surrounding contracts, communications, and potential conflicts of interest over the agency’s acquisition of SpaceX’s Starlink terminals.
“Transparency is critical when it comes to government procurement and the safeguarding of national security,” said Virginia Canter, Chief Anti-Corruption Counsel for State Democracy Defenders Fund. “The public deserves to know if this acquisition followed proper legal and security protocol, or whether conflicts of interest allowed SpaceX to bypass critical safeguards.”
The request, which was submitted through the FAA’s National Freedom of Information Act Office, calls for the release of all records from November 4, 2024, and onward related to agreements between the FAA and Elon Musk’s SpaceX for Starlink terminals and other SpaceX technology or services.
Concerns over Musk’s role as a Special Government Employee (SGE), combined with his significant control over SpaceX, raise questions about whether he influenced agency decision-making in ways that could compromise public trust and safety.
The FOIA request seeks expedited processing and can be viewed HERE.
State Democracy Defenders Fund brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state, and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.