Ligado Networks Is Suing the U.S. Government for $39 Billion Over GPS Spectrum And Killed its 5G Plans

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims has allowed Ligado Networks to proceed with its $39 billion lawsuit against the federal government, marking a significant development in a long-standing dispute over 5G spectrum usage and property rights. Ligado says the Pentagon secretly used its licensed airwaves without paying for them, then ran a public disinformation campaign to cover it up. No consumers can file a claim today — but the outcome of this case could reshape who controls the wireless spectrum Americans rely on for GPS, aviation, and next-generation mobile service.

Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Lawsuit Amount	$39,000,000,000+
Who Is Suing	Ligado Networks LLC
Who Is Being Sued	U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, NTIA
Court	U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Case Name	Ligado Networks LLC v. United States, et al.
Filed	October 2023
Legal Theory	Fifth Amendment takings clause (unconstitutional taking of property)
Case Status	Active — government’s dismissal motion partly denied November 2024
Consumer Claims Open	No
Settlement	None — active litigation

Where the Case Stands Right Now

• A federal judge on November 18, 2024 rejected some of Ligado’s minor arguments but allowed the major portion of the $39 billion claim to proceed, ruling the case “may proceed.”
• The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit agreed to allow the government to challenge the ruling that rejected its bid to dismiss Ligado’s lawsuit, meaning appellate proceedings are now running parallel to the main case.
• The Delaware bankruptcy court confirmed Ligado’s reorganization plan on September 29, 2025, converting approximately $8.6 billion in funded debt to equity and preserving the government lawsuit as a core asset of the restructured company.

How the Pentagon Allegedly Stole a Company’s Airwaves

The legal theory centers on the Fifth Amendment’s takings clause, which requires the government to provide just compensation when it takes private property. Ligado argues that executive branch actions — particularly the Defense Department and Commerce Department’s campaign against the company’s FCC-authorized operations — constituted a regulatory taking of valuable spectrum rights.

Here is the core of what Ligado alleges happened: the DoD “has taken Ligado’s spectrum for the agency’s own purposes, operating previously undisclosed systems that use or depend on Ligado’s spectrum without compensating Ligado.” In other words, Ligado says the military was quietly running its own systems on airwaves it had no legal right to use for free — and then lied about it publicly to protect that arrangement.

According to court filings, the government’s “misinformation campaign” misrepresented the interference threat from Ligado’s operations, Congress relied on these misrepresentations in blocking deployment, and the combined effect was to render Ligado’s spectrum licenses commercially worthless. Ligado says it raised and invested billions of dollars in good faith after receiving FCC approval in 2020 — money it now says the government’s conduct effectively destroyed.

Why GPS Became the Weapon Used Against Ligado

To understand this case, you need to understand what L-band spectrum is and why the military cares so deeply about it.

At the core of this dispute is the proximity of Ligado’s L-band spectrum to GPS frequencies, raising concerns about potential interference with critical GPS signals used for navigation, timing, and various applications essential for national security and economic stability. The military, aviation industry, and GPS device manufacturers all warned that allowing Ligado to build a ground-based 5G network on those frequencies could disrupt the GPS signals billions of people — and countless military systems — depend on every day.

In 2018, the DOD inexplicably reversed course and instead actively sought to block FCC approval through what Ligado describes as a reckless campaign of misinformation, scientifically meritless arguments, and unsubstantiated fearmongering about alleged harmful interference with GPS. The FCC ultimately sided with Ligado and granted its license in April 2020 — but the DOD’s opposition never stopped.

The lawsuit charged that the Pentagon had “taken Ligado’s spectrum for the agency’s own purposes, operating previously undisclosed systems that use or depend on Ligado’s spectrum” — including, according to sources supporting Ligado, not just GPS satellites but also classified radars.

Related article: EarthMed Budtenders Reach $250,000 Tip Theft Lawsuit Settlement, Here’s If You Qualify and What to Do Next

What This Means for Everyday GPS and Mobile Users

Ligado never launched a commercial network. It never had retail customers. So why does this lawsuit matter to you?

The answer is what happens to the spectrum if Ligado wins, loses, or settles. Ligado has already struck an agreement with AST SpaceMobile for long-term access to up to 45MHz of lower mid-band spectrum in the U.S. AST SpaceMobile is building a satellite network designed to bring direct-to-cell broadband to standard smartphones — meaning the spectrum at the center of this lawsuit could eventually power mobile connectivity for millions of Americans who currently have no signal.

A favorable judgment or substantial settlement would generate recoveries far exceeding what the AST transaction alone provides — and those proceeds would flow to restructured Ligado, which is now controlled by its former creditors. The GPS interference question, meanwhile, remains unresolved at the regulatory level, and any deployment on this spectrum will eventually force that issue back into public debate.

The Conflict of Interest Question Congress Is Asking

The lawsuit has attracted attention beyond the courtroom. Senator Elizabeth Warren raised conflict of interest concerns in a March 2025 letter to the Deputy Secretary of Defense-Designate, noting that private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management — with a $3.3 billion combined debt and preferred stock stake in Ligado — would profit significantly from a favorable government settlement.

One spectrum analyst predicted that Ligado would pursue an out-of-court settlement with the Trump administration, though he noted significant complicating factors — including whether Elon Musk might weigh in, given that AST SpaceMobile competes directly with Musk’s Starlink. No settlement talks have been publicly confirmed.

Key Dates in the Ligado Spectrum Fight

Milestone	Date
FCC Grants Ligado L-Band License	April 2020
DOD Begins Opposition Campaign	2018 (alleged)
Ligado Files $39B Lawsuit	October 2023
Government Moves to Dismiss	January 2024
Judge Allows Case to Proceed	November 18, 2024
Ligado Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy	January 5, 2025
Bankruptcy Reorganization Confirmed	September 29, 2025
Government Appeals Dismissal Ruling	Late 2025
Trial Date	TBD
Consumer Claims Open	N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a claim or get money from this lawsuit? 

No. This is a lawsuit between Ligado Networks and the U.S. government — not a consumer class action. There is no settlement fund, no claims portal, and no eligibility process for the public. Individual consumers cannot participate in or receive compensation from this case.

Is this lawsuit legitimate? 

Yes. A federal judge ruled in November 2024 that Ligado can move forward with its lawsuit against the U.S. government, rejecting the government’s attempt to have the case dismissed. The case is active in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

When will this case be resolved?

 No trial date has been set. The case involves complex constitutional property rights questions and parallel appellate proceedings. A resolution — whether by trial, settlement, or dismissal — is likely years away. TBD on any firm timeline.

What is a “regulatory taking” and why does it matter?

 A regulatory taking happens when the government’s actions effectively destroy the value of private property without physically seizing it — triggering the Fifth Amendment’s requirement to pay fair compensation. Ligado argues that the government’s actions rendered its spectrum licenses commercially worthless, which is the legal foundation of its $39 billion demand.

Do I need a lawyer to follow this case?

 No legal action is required or available for consumers. You can follow the case through the U.S. Court of Federal Claims public docket. If you are a Ligado creditor or investor, consult a securities or bankruptcy attorney about your specific situation.

Will this affect GPS on my phone or in my car?

 Not immediately. Ligado never deployed its network, and no interference has occurred. The concerns center on the proximity of Ligado’s L-band spectrum to GPS frequencies used for navigation, timing, and national security applications. Any future deployment would require fresh regulatory review before it could affect consumer GPS devices.

When will I receive my payment?

 There are no consumer payments associated with this case. This question does not apply here — see “Can I file a claim?” above.

What if I missed a claim deadline?

 There is no claim deadline because there is no public claims process tied to this lawsuit. This case is purely between Ligado and the federal government.

Sources & References

• U.S. Court of Federal Claims — Ligado Networks LLC v. United States, et al. (Case filed October 2023)
• Ligado Networks — Official Press Release, October 13, 2023
• Breaking Defense — Judge Allows $39B Lawsuit to Proceed, November 2024
• GPS World — Ligado Moves Forward With DOD Lawsuit, December 2024

Last Updated: March 26, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.