The movement of Chinese spy balloons over the continental US, which was previously unknown, was only discovered after President Joe Biden took office, according to a senior administration official. Though how and when the balloons were found is still not yet known, the Biden administration believes Chinese surveillance programs have been deployed in five continents over the last several years.

The Pentagon had briefed Congress on balloons that flew near Texas and Florida during the Trump administration, and former President Donald Trump said on social media that these reports were “fake disinformation.” However, the senior administration official now states that the balloons had not been discovered till the Trump administration left office.

Another Chinese spy balloon also transited the US briefly at the beginning of the Biden administration, which was successfully shot down by the US military on Saturday. This balloon was unique in both its path—down from Alaska and Canada into the US—and the length of time it loite