Space Force Chief Nominee Warns of China's "Breathtakingly Fast" Space Advances

Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess, nominated to become the third chief of the U.S. Space Force, told the Senate Armed Services Committee this week that China's rapidly advancing space capabilities are a primary justification for the service's budget. His confirmation hearing was short and nonconfrontational, and he is expected to succeed Gen. Chance Saltzman as chief of space operations.

Schiess described the pace of China's development in space as "breathtakingly fast," using that assessment to frame the case for Space Force spending. The characterization aligns with a consistent message from military space leadership that treats space as a warfighting domain requiring sustained investment.

The hearing drew low attendance. Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine, called the sparse turnout a "compliment" to the nominee, a reflection of the lack of controversy surrounding his candidacy. If confirmed, Schiess would become the third officer to hold the position of chief of space operations.

The smooth proceedings arrived the same week as a separate finding from the Government Accountability Office. The GAO reported that the Space Force left thousands of required jobs unfilled in 2025, and that the service cannot fully account for the personnel it needs. That finding stands as a counterpoint to the budget case Schiess and other leaders continue to make.

The framing of China as the central rationale for Space Force spending is a deliberate and repeated theme from the service's leadership. The low-drama confirmation reflects a bipartisan consensus that space is a warfighting domain, even as questions about the service's ability to fill its own ranks remain unresolved.

The GAO finding on unfilled positions is unlikely to fade from view as the Space Force continues to press its budget requests, and it will sit alongside the confirmation process as the Senate moves toward a vote on Schiess.