Members of Congress React to Report of New Balloon Flying Over US

U.S. lawmakers are responding to reports that the Pentagon is tracking a high-altitude balloon over the western part of the country.

A Chinese spy balloon was shot down by the U.S. after it traversed the continent last year. CBC News reported on Friday that the newly-spotted balloon was seen over Colorado and defense officials had determined that it was not a threat, although its origin and purpose remained unknown.

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Public Affairs confirmed in a statement emailed to Newsweek that "small balloon" that does not "present a threat to national security" had been detected and intercepted by fighter aircraft over Utah.

U.S. Senator Jon Tester and Representative Matt Rosendale, both of Montana, each said that they were monitoring the development in posts to X, formerly Twitter.

The Context

Last year's Chinese spy balloon entered through Alaskan airspace and flew over parts of Canada and the midwestern U.S. before finally being shot down off the coast of South Carolina on February 4, about one week after it entered American airspace.

The incident was followed by several other high-altitude balloon sightings, none of which were found to be from China, and political fallout that included heavy criticism of President Joe Biden's administration by Republicans.

More recently, Taiwanese officials have tracked a barrage of high-altitude balloons being sent from China over the Strait of Taiwan, escalating tensions in the airspace over the disputed island territory.

At the time of publication, there was no indication the balloon that is reportedly currently over the country is a spy balloon or from China.

What We Know

"In close coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected a small balloon at an altitude varying between 43,000-45,000 ft," the statement from NORAD reads. "The balloon was intercepted by NORAD fighters over Utah, who determined it was not maneuverable and did not present a threat to national security."

"NORAD will continue to track and monitor the balloon," it continues. "The FAA also determined the balloon posed no hazard to flight safety. NORAD remains in close coordination with the FAA to ensure flight safety."

The CBC report was based on anonymous "sources familiar with the matter" who claimed that the balloon was headed east after being spotted by the military in Colorado. Fox News later said that two U.S. officials had confirmed the report.

Rosendale, a Republican, responded to the CBS report on X by noting that "the origin of this balloon remains unknown," before announcing that he and his staff would be "tracking this development closely."

Tester, a Democrat, wrote the following in his post to X: "I'm tracking reports of the high-altitude balloon that is traveling over the Western part of the country. I will continue to monitor the situation and demand transparency from DOD."

Views

Conservatives, particularly supporters of former President Donald Trump, took the opportunity to suggest that the balloon does pose a threat caused by the Biden administration.

"Another year, another flying balloon over our country," wrote Republican Representative Lauren Boebert in a post to X. "This is what happens when no one takes your 'President' seriously."

"If China sent a spy balloon above the United States while Trump was President, he would order the US military to bomb Beijing," posted @BehizyTweets. "They only do these things when they sense weakness."

"When that balloon gets over a red state, the red States governor should order the shoot down of that Balloon by that state's National Guard!" wrote @TheyCallMeTomO1. "The corrupt compromised biden/harris regime won't do anything about it because they have been told by our adversaries to leave it alone!"

What's Next

As NORAD has determined that the balloon poses no "threat to national security" and "no hazard to flight safety," it is not clear whether the military will take any further steps to intervene or determine the origin of the object.

Assuming that the balloon continues to travel east from where it was spotted in Utah, it could pass out of U.S. airspace over the East Coast within days, if it does not cross the Canadian border first.

Update 02/23/24 6:12 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.