On January 27, the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) discreetly alerted the US government of a foreign object headed towards US airspace. However, the report was not given priority, and top officials that received it were not placed on any urgent alert. Despite the report, US officials instead chose to investigate the object, treating it as an opportunity for intelligence collection, rather than an immediate threat. Just one day later, the suspected Chinese spy balloon entered Alaskan airspace, quickly drawing the attention of US defense officials who identified the threat and took action. This timeline of events has raised the concern of some US Republicans who have criticized the Biden administration for not acting sooner.

The Chinese government has since admitted to the balloon's origin and issued a formal apology, claiming that it had been taken off course by the westerly winds. A series of related events has since occurred, including a closed-door briefing between US Senate staff