Lawmakers Double Down On Boosting Space Force

Two U.S. senators are joining forces on new legislation designed to strengthen the U.S. Space Force as China rapidly expands its military and commercial capabilities in space.

Sens. Katie Britt, R-Ala., and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., introduced the Space Superiority Readiness Act of 2026, a bipartisan proposal aimed at improving America’s ability to prepare for potential threats involving satellites and other critical space-based systems.

The legislation would expand military wargaming, modeling, simulation and training for Space Force personnel, known as Guardians.

At the center of the proposal is a growing national security concern: America’s military relies heavily on satellites, while China continues developing capabilities that could threaten those systems during a future conflict.

New Space Force Bill Targets Military Readiness

Under the Space Superiority Readiness Act, the Department of War would be directed to expand specialized training for American military personnel responsible for space operations.

Those programs would focus on the tactics, techniques and procedures necessary for space control operations.

The proposal would also strengthen the military’s ability to model and simulate potential threats in space, giving Guardians opportunities to train for scenarios they could face during an actual confrontation.

Supporters believe realistic training is increasingly important as space becomes a more contested area of military competition.

Just as American troops train for potential conflicts on land, at sea and in the air, military planners are placing greater emphasis on preparing for confrontations that could extend into space.

China’s Space Expansion Draws Attention in Washington

China’s growing space program is a major reason behind the legislation.

Beijing has invested significant resources in military space technology as well as systems that could potentially interfere with an adversary’s satellites.

For the United States, the stakes are substantial.

Modern American military operations depend on satellites for critical functions including:

• Missile detection and warning
• GPS navigation
• Military communications
• Intelligence gathering
• Surveillance and reconnaissance
• Targeting and battlefield coordination

Losing access to those capabilities during a conflict could create serious problems for American forces.

A successful attack or disruption involving U.S. satellites could potentially affect military operations on land, in the air and at sea.

That makes protecting America’s space infrastructure an increasingly important part of national defense.

Britt Says America Must Prepare for Emerging Threats

Britt said the proposal is intended to help ensure the United States can maintain space control during a potential conflict with China and respond effectively to emerging threats.

Cortez Masto also pointed to China’s expanding military activities in space while arguing that American personnel need the training and resources necessary to meet those challenges.

The bipartisan legislation was introduced following a visit by the senators to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, where they observed Space Force operations.

The strategically important installation supports missions connected to missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance.

The visit gave the lawmakers a firsthand look at some of the operations involved in protecting American interests far beyond the country’s traditional borders.

Why U.S. Satellites Matter to National Security

For many Americans, the Space Force may still seem like a relatively new addition to the military.

Its mission, however, involves technology that has become indispensable to modern national defense.

Satellites help American commanders communicate with forces around the world. They provide navigation information, detect potential missile launches and assist intelligence operations.

That reliance creates an obvious vulnerability.

An adversary that successfully disrupts America’s access to satellites could make it more difficult for U.S. forces to communicate, navigate, detect incoming threats or coordinate military operations.

China’s development of counterspace capabilities has therefore attracted growing attention from American defense officials and lawmakers.

The concern is not simply about which country can launch the most satellites.

The larger question is whether the United States can protect the systems its military depends upon if a serious confrontation occurs.

Bill Would Require New Report on China’s Commercial Space Industry

The legislation would also require the federal government to examine another rapidly developing area: China’s commercial space sector.

Within 180 days of the legislation becoming law, the government would be required to provide Congress with an unclassified assessment of Chinese commercial space capabilities.

The report would examine technologies developed by China’s commercial space industry and identify capabilities that could potentially have military applications.

The findings could give lawmakers a clearer picture of how China’s commercial space efforts may overlap with its military and defense objectives.

The issue has become increasingly important as the line separating civilian and military space technology grows less distinct.

A technology developed for commercial communications, navigation or observation could potentially have national security applications as well.

Space Is Becoming a New Military Front

The U.S. Space Force was established in 2019 as the sixth branch of America’s armed forces.

Its creation reflected a significant change in modern warfare.

For generations, military power was primarily measured by soldiers, aircraft, warships and weapons.

Those assets remain essential, but today’s armed forces also depend heavily on satellites, computer networks, advanced communications and other sophisticated technology.

America’s adversaries understand that dependence.

As a result, protecting satellites and maintaining access to space have become critical parts of U.S. defense planning.

The Space Force is responsible for helping protect American and allied interests in space while defending critical military systems against potential threats.

Bipartisan Concern Over China’s Military Ambitions

Washington remains deeply divided on many political issues, but competition with China has produced areas of bipartisan agreement.

The Space Superiority Readiness Act is another example.

Britt and Cortez Masto come from opposite political parties, yet both are supporting additional preparation for the possibility that America’s military could face serious challenges in space.

For conservatives who support a strong military and a robust national defense, China’s continued technological expansion presents a question Washington cannot afford to ignore.

The United States has maintained enormous military advantages for decades. Preserving those advantages increasingly requires America to remain competitive not only on Earth, but above it.

The Stakes for America

Space may seem distant from the everyday concerns of most Americans, but the technology operating overhead has become deeply connected to the nation’s security.

Military communications, navigation, intelligence and missile-warning systems all rely on America’s ability to operate effectively in space.

If those capabilities are threatened, the effects could reach every branch of the armed forces.

The new bipartisan proposal seeks to prepare Space Force Guardians for that possibility before a crisis develops.

As China continues expanding its military and commercial space programs, Congress faces an increasingly important decision over how aggressively the United States should invest in protecting its technological advantage.

For supporters of a strong national defense, the objective is straightforward: America must be prepared to defend its interests wherever future threats emerge — including in space.