A vague yet alarming warning has emerged from a top Republican in Congress regarding a “serious national security threat” facing the United States.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner called on President Joe Biden in a statement on Thursday to declassify intelligence about the purported threat, of which few details have been made public. Turner provided no specifics on the nature of the threat in his statement posted on Truth Social, the platform started by former President Donald Trump.
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,” Turner wrote.
The White House acknowledged the threat is real but said it is not imminent. Biden administration officials said congressional leaders would receive classified briefings on the intelligence this week.
Lawmakers have until Friday to review the intelligence in a secure facility, according to a memo obtained by Punchbowl News. The memo said the “urgent matter” relates to a “destabilizing foreign military capability.”
Some U.S. media reports suggest the warning pertains to Russian efforts to develop an anti-satellite nuclear weapon that could be deployed in space. The New York Times, citing current and former officials, said the weapon is not yet in orbit.
While the threat is deemed “significant,” House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Jim Himes, a Democrat, said in a statement “it is not a cause for panic.” Himes indicated that public discussion of classified details would be unwise.
Other key lawmakers largely echoed that sentiment, saying they are working with the Biden administration on an “appropriate response” while avoiding disclosing sensitive sources and methods.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said he offered to brief the “Gang of Eight” — the Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate and the intelligence committees. But Sullivan expressed surprise that Turner spoke publicly before his scheduled briefing on Thursday.
Sullivan declined to provide specifics but said the administration is focused on “protecting the national security of the United States and the American people” from a range of threats.
The alarming if vague warning comes amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Russia over the war in Ukraine. It remains unclear whether the threat Turner cited is directly related to the conflict, but the report of a possible anti-satellite weapon has sparked concerns that Russia may be escalating the space-based arms race.
While details remain scarce, the revelation from a senior Republican lawmaker that America faces a “serious” national security threat is sure to prompt urgent bipartisan discussions about how to respond and stave off any danger. But the need for discretion around classified intelligence also makes a vigorous public debate unlikely in the near term.
