Russia National Security Threat: Everything We Know About Space Rumors 

The United States and its allies are facing a "serious national security threat," the head of the House Intelligence Committee has said, as senior officials stress both concern and calm about the development of what is understood to be a new Russian space-based weapon.

On Wednesday, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner said the committee had passed on information about a "serious national security threat" to Congress.

"I am requesting that President Biden 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," the Ohio Republican added in a brief statement, offering no further information.

Few details are known about the exact nature of the threat, but it is understood to relate to Russia developing new capabilities in space to target satellites using nuclear technology.

ABC News reported that the intelligence was related to a Russian desire to put a nuclear weapon into space for use against satellites, citing two anonymous sources with knowledge of Capitol Hill discussions. Moscow has been experimenting with how to use nuclear explosions or other methods to take out satellites, a U.S. official told The Washington Post.

Reports of the Kremlin ploughing forward with a new space-based satellite-targeting weapon raises questions about the safety of civilian and military communications. The possible destruction of satellites would have widespread implications, including in navigation and access to many services.

Washington cannot currently defend against such a weapon and shield its satellites, a former official told The New York Times. It is not yet clear what the time scale for such a weapon to be operational may be, or how the U.S. plans to counteract the new capability.

The U.S. and the then Soviet Union signed a treaty in 1967, banning the placing of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in space. After the start of all-out war in Ukraine nearly two years ago, Russia suspended its participation in the last remaining treaty with the U.S. that limited nuclear arsenals—the New START treaty.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment via email on Thursday.

U.S. officials broadly expressed deep concern, but lobbied for calm in statements to the media following Republican Congressman Turner's statement.

"There is obviously no cause for alarm or for panic," said House Intelligence Committee ranking member, Connecticut Democrat Jim Himes.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would meet with President Joe Biden on Thursday and he would "press the Administration to take appropriate action."

"Steady hands are at the wheel, we're working on it," he told the media.

A Pentagon spokesperson referred to remarks from National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan when approached for comment on Thursday. Sullivan said on Wednesday he was "a bit surprised that Congressman Turner came out publicly today in advance of a meeting on the books for me to go sit with him alongside our intelligence and defense professionals tomorrow."

He declined to offer details on the nature of the threat during a White House press briefing.

The Senate Intelligence Committee chairman, Virginia Democrat Mark Warner, and Florida Republican Marco Rubio, who serves as vice chairman, said in a statement on Wednesday that the committee "has the intelligence in question, and has been rigorously tracking this issue from the start."

"We continue to take this matter seriously and are discussing an appropriate response with the administration. In the meantime, we must be cautious about potentially disclosing sources and methods that may be key to preserving a range of options for U.S. action."

Update 2/15/2024, 6:12 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

Update 2/15/2024, 9:45 a.m. ET: This article was updated with a Pentagon response.