Proposed Amendment to Share Military Environmental Data with NOAA

The Frame

What this does

This amendment would mandate a new interagency data-sharing process between the Department of Defense and NOAA, potentially improving civilian weather and ocean forecasting capabilities using existing military data.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Department of Defense

The agency must establish new processes for data review, declassification, and interagency sharing.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The agency will receive and integrate military environmental data into its forecasting operations.

What changed

Last recorded activity June 24, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

Senator Cruz has proposed an amendment to the 2027 defense authorization bill that would require the Department of Defense to share environmental data, such as weather and ocean observations, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The proposal includes provisions for declassifying data and limiting its distribution during national security crises.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of data would the military share under this proposal?

The military would share real-time, near real-time, and longer-time series that can improve weather, ocean, or space weather forecasts.

Will this data be shared during a war or national security crisis?

The proposal requires the establishment of procedures to conditionally limit the distribution of data during a national security crisis or war to prevent adversary use, while maintaining access for U.S. civil agencies.

Why It Matters

This amendment would mandate a new interagency data-sharing process between the Department of Defense and NOAA, potentially improving civilian weather and ocean forecasting capabilities using existing military data.

News Coverage

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Related Legislation

congressional_record

Senate Scheduling Update for S. 4784

The Senate has agreed to delay the vote on a cloture motion for S. 4784 until after the confirmation vote for the Schwartz nomination. This procedural

Connected Entities

organizationNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration“The agency designated to receive and use the shared environmental data.”Map →

organizationDepartment of Defense“The agency required to share environmental data.”Map →

personUnder Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere“Required to coordinate on the data-sharing process.”Map →

personMr. Cruz“United States Senator who submitted the amendment.”Map →

organizationDepartment of the Navy“Required to coordinate on the data-sharing process.”Map →

organizationDepartment of the Air Force“Required to coordinate on the data-sharing process.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level