On Thursday, the Biden White House confirmed publicly that Russia has obtained a "troubling" emerging anti-satellite weapon. "… There is no immediate threat to anyone's safety," WH National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. "We're not talking about a weapon that can be used to attack human beings or cause physical destruction here on earth.''
Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, had issued a statement on Wednesday warning Americans of a "serious national security threat." Writing on the social media platform X, Turner was light on details but encouraged President Joe Biden to "declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the administration and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat."
NBC News cited three sources Wednesday in reporting that Russia is developing a space-based nuclear weapon designed to target U.S. satellites. Those sources said the satellites are critical to U.S. civilian communications, navigation, military operations and intelligence gathering.
"I am confident that President Biden, in the decisions that he has taken, is going to ensure the security of the American people going forward. And I will stand here at this podium and assert that, look you in the eye with confidence, that we believe that we can and will and are protecting the national security of the United States and the American people," White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told a news conference gathering Wednesday.
Waltz: Threat is ‘serious and urgent'
Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Florida), a member of Turner's committee, said on Washington Watch Wednesday that the threat is "serious and urgent" but that there's no need to be "diving into your bunker tonight."
"The threat is so significant that in my view it would be a geostrategic gamechanger if it fully materializes," Waltz told show host Tony Perkins. "The chairman [Rep. Turner] made a decision to have all members have access to this intelligence and called upon the administration to work through the process; protect our sources of methods, but to declassify it. If the administration does that, I think we will all see that this is a threat of global proportions."
Rep. Jim Himes (D-Connecticut), the ranking minority member, told media that Turner was "right to highlight the issue. It's so sensitive that he is right now not publicly discussing it. It is something that Congress and the administration does need to address in the medium to long run."
In the short run, the Gang of Eight – four members from the House and four from the Senate responsible for receiving and reviewing sensitive intelligence information – was scheduled to meet Thursday. Sullivan told reporters the meeting had been scheduled before Turner's statement.
The Kremlin responded by calling the U.S. warnings a "trick" and "malicious fabrication" with the goal of securing money for Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.
Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, quoted through Russia's state-run news agency TASS, said: "It is obvious the White House is trying, by hook or by crook, to encourage Congress to vote on a bill to allocate money."
Multiple reports have indicated the weapon is not presently operational, but Waltz, choosing his words carefully, hinted at updated intelligence. "There were some pieces of the puzzle that have fallen into place," he said.
Freezing out the committee
What hasn't fallen into place is an acceptable level of communication from the White House to the committee. Waltz said there's been "concern for the lack of information and the lack of response from the administration to the chairman."
Though Sullivan said the Gang of Eight meeting was on the books, Turner had previously sought information, but the White House has remained silent. That's been a source of frustration for the committee chairman – and committee members as well, according to Waltz.
"He's sent multiple classified letters to the administration asking them to come meet with us to inform us of their strategy to deal with this," the Florida lawmaker shared. "They haven't done so. Fortunately, now we have the Gang of Eight meeting. I hope we see that the administration's not only taking this seriously but putting strategies in place to deal with it.
"That remains to be seen, but we have an oversight role, and it's unacceptable to just not respond to our inquiries. It's safe to say from the spy balloon incident, the disastrous Iran policy and the Houthis using our ships as target practice there's a real lack of confidence in the leadership, policy decisions and judgment of the White House," Waltz concluded.
