Space Force nominee warns China's counter-space buildup is moving at 'breathtakingly fast' pace

Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that China is building counter-space weapons at a pace that demands a sharp increase in American spending, as senators pressed him on a proposed $71.1 billion Space Force budget for fiscal year 2027. The request, heard July 16, represents a 124% increase over the prior year.

Schiess, nominated to become the third Chief of Space Operations succeeding Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, said the threat is not theoretical. "What they are doing with what I'll call counter-space and space superiority capabilities is breathtakingly fast," he said. "We've seen anti-satellite tests from the ground. There are capabilities in space that hold our satellites at risk." He also cited Russia as a continuing threat, though at a lesser scale than China, noting that Moscow fields capabilities that threaten satellites, ground infrastructure, and electromagnetic links connecting U.S. forces.

Sen. Angus King challenged the size of the request directly. "Your budget's increasing by 124% this year," King said. "Please explain to the committee and to the American people why this really massive increase is necessary." Schiess answered that the Space Force needs the ability to achieve space superiority, countering adversaries' ability to hold U.S. satellites at risk and destroy them, and that "the vast bulk of that money is for equipment, not personnel," specifying it would fund weapon systems, facilities, and training capability. The request also includes 2,800 additional Guardians and 2,000 additional civilians.

The committee has not yet voted on the nomination.