The Atmosphere: America’s Next Strategic Domain

The atmosphere is rapidly emerging as a critical domain for American security and economic competitiveness, with overarching influence on national defense, agricultural productivity, and public safety. As China races to become a “weather superpower” and private companies mobilize billions for atmospheric interventions, the United States confronts a dual challenge: first, the rapidly expanding efforts that outpace our knowledge of reasonable and safe practices; second, the threat of rising foreign capabilities that could reshape global environmental conditions, all of which could have an effect on America’s security, economy, and communities.

Protecting America’s weather sovereignty—the nation’s ability to understand, monitor, and safeguard our own skies—has become a fundamental and urgent matter of national security, public health, and economic prosperity.