Sponsors (4)
Introduced February 9, 2026 by W. Greg Steube · Last progress February 9, 2026
The bill increases local control, transparency, and enforcement against unlawful weather modification while simultaneously restricting federal research and coordination—trading national research capacity and federal safeguards for greater state/local authority and risk‑shifting to nonfederal actors.
Communities (urban and rural), air travelers, and federal regulators gain clearer reporting, public transparency, interagency coordination, and enforcement tools (FAA reporting, EPA public reporting and investigations, criminal/civil penalties) to deter and respond to unlawful weather modification.
State and local governments and operators (farmers, utilities) regain primary control over weather-modification decisions and face reduced federal permitting and compliance burdens, lowering regulatory costs for on-the-ground activities.
Communities (including rural areas and local governments) are protected from federal government–sponsored weather modification because the bill bars federal participation nationwide, removing a pathway for government-led interventions.
Scientists, state governments, and communities lose federal research programs and funding for climate intervention and weather‑modification studies, reducing development of mitigation tools and forecasting improvements for extreme weather and climate risks.
Local governments, farmers, and communities face increased risk of uncoordinated or cross-jurisdictional weather‑modification activity because removal of federal permits and bans on federal coordination create regulatory gaps and weaken national safeguards.
Researchers, small entities, and private operators could face criminal liability, large per‑release civil fines, and broad legal uncertainty due to expanded criminal penalties and sweeping federal jurisdiction over interstate atmospheric activities.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Criminalizes knowing authorization or conduct of weather modification in the U.S., bans federal agencies and fund recipients from such research, repeals authorizations, and sets up reporting/enforcement.
Makes it a federal crime to knowingly authorize or carry out weather modification activities in U.S. airspace, territories, or that use interstate or foreign commerce, and imposes civil penalties. It also repeals existing federal authorizations and regulations that allow weather modification, bars federal agencies and any recipients of federal funds from conducting weather-modification research or testing, and requires the FAA and EPA to create public reporting systems and investigatory procedures. The Act takes effect 90 days after enactment.