The key facts

  • Four contracts from March 2025 to June 2026 totaling nearly $1.2 million
  • Officials previously claimed that Starlink was transferred to the White House free of charge
  • SpaceX and the White House Communications Agency did not respond to requests

Contracts instead of a gift

The White House has repeatedly described the Starlink satellite communications service as a gift from Elon Musk, but according to The Washington Post, citing contract documents, since March 2025 the US government has paid SpaceX nearly $1.2 million for its installation and maintenance. This was reported by Gazeta.Ru.

What is known about the contracts

We are talking about four contracts concluded from March 2025 to June 2026. The money was intended for services for the White House Communications Agency — a military unit that provides secure communications for the president, vice president and other officials. When Starlink appeared in the White House last year, officials claimed that the company had transferred the service free of charge; the contract records do not support this version. At the same time, the publication does not disclose the amounts and details of each of the four contracts, nor does it specify exactly what work was paid for — equipment installation, technical maintenance, or both.

Reaction and context

According to The Washington Post, SpaceX and the White House Communications Agency did not respond to requests for comment. Starlink belongs to SpaceX, which is run by Elon Musk; the company remains one of the Pentagon's largest contractors, and Musk himself has been actively involved in politics in recent years and has supported the Republicans. Earlier, as Gazeta.Ru notes, Musk responded to Zelensky regarding the improper use of Starlink.