Ensuring U.S. National Security Space Forces Are Ready for Near-Term Conflict

of multiple simultaneous, high-intensity military crises or conflicts in Europe, the Middle East, Northeast Asia and the Indo- Pacific. Urgent steps are needed to assure U.S. national security space forces are optimized for near-term high-intensity conflict on a global scale.

America’s enemies fully recognize the central role that space systems play in modern warfare and are rapidly developing space and counterspace systems to counter U.S. advantages. Indeed, as noted by then Vice Chief of Space Operations General David T. Thompson, “Russia and China are attacking U.S. satellites every day”. They have conducted jamming and electronic warfare attacks on U.S. Government and commercial satellite communications systems and networks, close approaches of U.S. high value space systems, laser “dazzling” of U.S. photoreconnaissance satellites, destructive and non-destructive tests of ground- and space-based kinetic energy ASAT systems, and cyber operations against space-enabled and -supported networks, among other actions.

• Declassify the “fact of” certain U.S. space and counterspace capabilities to bolster deterrence and enhance integration of such capabilities into U.S. war plans and operations. America’s enemies must understand that the U.S. has the capabilities and will to withstand attacks on critical U.S. government and commercial space systems while at the same time counter adversary space systems that are used for targeting American and allied forces.
• Direct the Secretary of Defense (SecDef) and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to jointly rationalize governance and align security policies and programs to enable U.S. national security space missions.*
• Strongly urge the Congress to quickly pass the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for FY 2025, and the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 2025 and submit those bills for your signature. In addition, request that the Congress move expeditiously to pass an Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to bolster key U.S. military and intelligence space capabilities, including government and commercial space systems and operations. These bills are urgently needed to strengthen the U.S. defense posture, enhance intra- and inter-regional deterrence, and address gaps in defense and intelligence space capabilities.
• Direct the SecDef to ensure that U.S. Space Force programs, activities and budgets are properly aligned so as to meet the near-term needs of the combatant commanders.
• Conduct a review of U.S. military operations plans and contingency plans for each of the theaters referenced above, including the space warfare aspects of those plans, and provide the SecDef with approvals and pre-delegated authorities needed to conduct timely and effective space and counterspace operations, as appropriate.
• Direct the SecDef to accelerate plans to effectively protect and defend critical U.S, allied, and commercial satellites from adversary attack. In addition, direct the SecDef and the DNI to jointly work with the private sector and allies to strengthen information-sharing on adversary threats to space systems (including space domain awareness data), coordinate on-orbit operations, and rapidly enhance the performance and survivability of U.S., allied, and commercial space systems.
• Direct the DNI to develop options for leveraging Presidential authorities to conduct covert action to enhance the U.S. ability to counter adversary space systems and supporting infrastructure, associated supply chains, and more. Strongly encourage the relevant Congressional committees to rapidly authorize and appropriate funding for any covert action programs.
• Direct the SecDef and DNI to take immediate steps to harden and shield critical U.S. space systems, networks, and components, including those for nuclear command, control and communications (NC3) and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), from ground- or space-based counterspace threats including deployment and detonation of the Russian nuclear ASAT.**
• Direct the Secretary of State and SecDef to launch a coordinated campaign to work with friends and allies to assure support for U.S. diplomatic efforts to bolster international cooperation on space security, while rejecting unverifiable and counterproductive space arms control measures proposed by Russia and China.