Image: US DOT and DOD
The below is an issue paper we are circulating to members of the new administration and congress in the U.S. There is a link to a pdf version at the bottom of this post. Please share this post and/or the pdf as widely as you are able.
Lack of Attention to PNT & GPS Endangers America
Critical Issue for New Administration and Congress
February 2025
Cause for Action: Positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services underpin all the systems and technologies that enable modern life. GPS has become the primary source of PNT and has enabled unprecedented benefits for the U.S. and the world.
The last four years have seen massive increases in threats and disruption of GPS signals around the globe, especially impacting aviation. Loss of GPS would seriously compromise America’s national defense, public safety, economic security, and global standing.
30 days of GPS interference in 2024. Source: US DoT and DOD
Additionally, GPS’s capabilities are being surpassed by other national satnav systems.
China is a particular concern.
The first Trump administration’s SPD-7 and EO 13905 sought to address these issues. Yet, there has been little progress fielding improved PNT capabilities.
Ensuring PNT for domestic critical infrastructure, economic competitiveness, and military superiority is a vital national interest. As such, it requires urgent and high-level leadership attention.
Threatened areas include:
- National Defense – GPS disruptions have degraded the effectiveness of U.S. military systems and the implementation of more resilient military PNT is late to need. In the homeland, degradation of civil GPS use would greatly impede military outload, other logistics, and the defense industrial base.
- Public Safety – Intentional or inadvertent disruption of GPS (jamming and spoofing) endangers civil aviation and other modes of transportation. Such denial also severely hampers the National Guard and other first responder communications and ability to maneuver in times of civil unrest, natural disaster, and other contingencies.
- Economic Security – America has benefited economically over the last 40 years from the efficiencies enabled by widely available, free-to use, reliable PNT from GPS. It is used in virtually all aspects of life including financial systems, electric grids, telecommunications, IT, and transportation. If GPS were denied for any significant period of time the economic impact would be devasting.
- Global Standing/ Great Power Competition –
- China has established multiple sources of PNT, both space-based and terrestrial, such that it is far more resilient to disruptions. The U.S. is largely dependent on GPS alone. This gives China significant strategic and tactical advantages over the U.S. See attached chart.
- As China and Europe’s satnav systems continue to outpace America’s, GPS will lose its place as the preferred system. GPS as “America’s gift to the world” will cease to be a soft power asset.
Recommendation: The new administration must ensure America has the resilient national PNT we need. This will require evaluating the current leadership structure and decision-making process, and ensuring adequate funding for the protection, toughening, and augmentation of both civil and military capabilities.
A Note on Public and Private Roles – The U.S. government has been the authoritative source for time and navigation utilities for 180 years. As technology has evolved, commercial and private entities have become able to establish their own references, add value and help in distribution of authoritative, government-endorsed time and location. We urge the government to leverage commercial services as much as possible while ensuring the nation is protected.
Additional Recommendations
A selection of RNT Foundation recommendations to government agencies is available at: https://rntfnd.org/rntf-recommendations/
We also endorse recommendations made by the National Space-based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Advisory Board which are available at: https://www.gps.gov/governance/advisory/recommendations/
Pont of Contact:
Mr. Dana A. Goward, President
800.522.6948
Attached: Comparison of US and China PNT capabilities from the President’s National Space-based PNT Advisory Board, July 2024
The Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation is a public benefit, scientific, and educational charity 501(c)3 advocating for policies and systems to protect GPS satellites, signals, and users.
Attachment:
Notes:
- In October 2024 GPS World magazine announced China had completed its eLoran system.
- Commercial PNT services available in the U.S. are not listed. They are not national systems or capabilities, nor are they widely adopted.
