Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Jane Harmon (D-Calif.) believe the US must respond to Beijing’s recent anti-satellite test, which they both said should have come as no surprise. Sharing the stage at a recent Center for Strategic and International Studies forum, the two lawmakers also agreed that the use of the term “weaponization” is polarizing and that’s not the path to take right now. Kyl has been advocating more funding to develop space situational awareness and operationally responsive space. However, Kyl maintains that “preserving space as a sanctuary may sound appealing in theory, but it would be undefensible in practice” should a future enemy use space assets to track and target American forces. Harman wants to forgo the weaponization discussion right now—“it’s not that I say never”—so that we don’t “lose the opportunity to perhaps develop better policy.”
US Space Command Should Always Be Led by a Guardian
Sept. 12, 2026
General Stephen Whiting took command of U.S. Space Command in January 2024, and if customary three-year tenures hold, his tour would end in January 2027. The question now before the President and Senate is who should follow him? Whoever they choose, it has to be a Guardian—and so should every successor…
