The US Senate held the first public hearing on the Chinese spy balloon on Thursday, during which visibly angered lawmakers grilled defense department officials on when they learned of the balloon and why they waited a week to shoot it down. It has now been revealed that the Defense Intelligence Agency privately sent an internal report two days before the balloon entered US airspace, although the report was not flagged as an urgent warning and top defense and intelligence officials were not immediately alarmed by it.

Rather than acting quickly, the US chose to investigate the object and observe it for the opportunity to gain intelligence. It wasn't until the balloon entered Alaskan airspace and abruptly changed direction south that officials came to believe it was bell heading to cross over the continental US and spy on the mainland. The lack of urgency has spurred discontent from some Republicans, who have criticized the administration for not sounding the alarm sooner.

As more