Elon Musks Starlink Expands Across White House Complex The New York Times

pTrump AdministrationppAdvertisementppTrump administration officials said the company donated the internet service saying the gift had been vetted by the lawyer overseeing ethics issues in the White House Counsels OfficeppBy Maggie HabermanKate CongerEileen Sullivan and Ryan MacppStarlink the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musks SpaceX is now accessible across the White House campus It is the latest installation of the WiFi network across the government since Mr Musk joined the Trump administration as an unpaid adviserppIt was not immediately clear when the White House complex was fitted with Starlink after President Trump took office for a second termppStarlink terminals rectangular panels that receive internet signals beamed from SpaceX satellites in lowEarth orbit can be placed on physical structures But instead of being physically placed at the White House the Starlink system is now said to be routed through a White House data center with existing fiber cables miles from the complexppWhite House officials said the installation was an effort to increase internet availability at the complex They said that some areas of the property could not get cell service and that the existing WiFi infrastructure was overtaxedppKaroline Leavitt the White House press secretary said the effort was to improve WiFi connectivity on the complexppBut the circumstances are different from any previous situation to resolve internet services Mr Musk who is now an unpaid adviser working as a special government employee at the White House controls Starlink and other companies that have regulatory matters before or contracts with the federal government Questions about his business interests conflicting with his status as a presidential adviser and major Trump donor have persisted for weeksppWe are having trouble retrieving the article contentppPlease enable JavaScript in your browser settingsppThank you for your patience while we verify access If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account or subscribe for all of The TimesppThank you for your patience while we verify accessppAlready a subscriber Log inppWant all of The Times SubscribeppAdvertisementp