Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is once again lighting up headlines—and social media—by pushing legislation many are calling bold, bizarre, or both. The Georgia Republican announced she’s introducing a new federal bill that would make it a felony to deliberately alter the weather.
“This is about protecting our skies and our people,” Greene wrote on X. “I’m introducing legislation to make it a crime to inject, release, or disperse chemicals into the atmosphere for the express purpose of altering weather, temperature, climate, or sunlight intensity.”
The bill, modeled after a similar measure signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis earlier this summer, would criminalize geoengineering practices—real or imagined. Under Greene’s proposed law, such acts would carry felony charges and potential prison time.
Chemtrails, Cloud Seeding, and Conspiracies
To critics, this sounds like a nod to long-debunked conspiracy theories about “chemtrails”—the belief that governments or shadowy global organizations are secretly spraying chemicals from airplanes to manipulate weather or control minds. Greene, however, says she’s taking real threats seriously.
“We must end the dangerous and deadly practice of weather modification and geoengineering,” Greene said. “No person, company, entity, or government should ever be allowed to modify our weather by any means possible!!”
The idea isn’t entirely fringe. Cloud seeding—used in states like California and Colorado to increase rainfall or snowfall—is a real and legal form of weather modification. But experts say it’s a limited technique with modest effects, and nothing like the dystopian fears circulating in conspiracy circles.
Atmospheric scientist Matthew Cappucci responded bluntly: “It’s not a political statement for me as a Harvard-degreed atmospheric scientist to say that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene doesn’t know what the hell she’s talking about.”
The Political Climate
Florida’s law, which took effect July 1, criminalizes unapproved cloud seeding and related actions with penalties of up to five years in prison or $100,000 in fines. At least eight other states have introduced similar bills this year, reflecting a growing, if controversial, political movement.
Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee has signed on as a co-sponsor of Greene’s bill, which is expected to face an uphill battle in the House.
Meanwhile, Florida Democrat Jared Moskowitz fired back on social media: “I’m introducing a bill that prohibits the injection, release or dispersion of stupidity into Congress.”
Storms of the Past
Greene previously made waves after Hurricane Helene in 2024, which left over 200 dead. At the time, she suggested the storm’s devastating path could have been engineered by the Democrat-controlled government—remarks that critics labeled “dangerously irresponsible.”
Despite widespread denials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the scientific community, Greene has continued to raise alarms about what she believes is a secretive effort to manipulate the weather.
What’s Next?
Whether this bill gains traction or is simply a flash in the online pan remains to be seen. But with states taking action and a vocal online base backing Greene’s crusade, it’s clear that the skies—and the debate—are far from clear.
“Americans deserve the truth,” Greene said. “We need transparency, accountability, and protection from reckless science experiments in our atmosphere.”
What's Up Team