Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expresses strong support for a bill to ban geoengineering and weather manipulation in the state, but criticizes the House of Representatives for watering it down.
The statement comes amid an ongoing debate on the health risks associated with these practices, in which the state’s health secretary Joseph Ladapo has also raised his voice.
Ron DeSantis has commented in an appearance on X on a bill by Senator Ileana Garcia that seeks to ban geoengineering, also called aerosol spraying, and weather manipulation in Florida.
The bill has passed the Senate Rules Committee by a vote of 20-4, but faced opposition in the House of Representatives, where amendments have been made that would allow these practices instead.
DeSantis is clear in his support for Senator Garcia’s initiative.
– Senator Ileana Garcia has a bill in the Florida Senate to ban geoengineering and weather manipulation in the state of Florida. I support the bill, he says.
He strongly criticizes the House of Representatives for their handling of the bill.
– The Florida House of Representatives has gutted Senator Garcia’s legislation, DeSantis adds, warning that a watered-down law could set the practice of geoengineering and weather manipulation.
Criticism of “kooky ideas” on climate solutions
The governor rejects ideas about manipulating the atmosphere to counter climate change.
– People got a lot of kooky ideas that they can get in and put things in the atmosphere to block the sun and save us from climate change. We’re not playing that game in Florida, he says.
DeSantis is now urging the public to put pressure on the House of Representatives.
– I hope people will tell the House of Representatives in Florida: do not gut this bill, he concludes.
Big thanks to Senator Garcia for leading efforts to reduce geoengineering and weather modification activities in our Florida skies. These planes release aluminum, sulfates, and other compounds with unknown and harmful effects on human health. We have to keep fighting to clean up… https://t.co/815UlUBMCZ
— Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD (@FLSurgeonGen) April 2, 2025
Surgeon general warns of risks
Florida’s surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, has also spoken out on the issue and supports Senator Garcia’s work. In a post on X the same day, he writes: “These planes release aluminum, sulfates, and other compounds with unknown and harmful effects on human health”.
Ladapo emphasizes the importance of protecting Florida’s environment and residents. “We have to keep fighting to clean up the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat”, he adds.
Background geoengineering: Environmental and health concerns
The debate over geoengineering, also called aerosol spraying, has intensified in Florida following reports of potential health risks. According to data from US health advocate Mike Adams, samples from Florida's skies have indicated high levels of toxic metals such as aluminum, which is being linked to weather manipulation.
Four senators – Shevrin Jones, Lori Berman, Tracie Davis and Rosalind Osgood – voted against the bill in the Senate Rules Committee, which has drawn criticism from groups like Florida Sky Watchers, which accuses them of prioritizing partisan politics over environmental protection.
The House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a supermajority with 87 out of 120 seats, has, according to critics such as Christina Pushaw, chosen to support practices such as carbon storage instead of banning weather manipulation, which was seen as a controversial move.
In Sweden, the aerosol spraying debate has been completely dismissed by mainstream media as "conspiracy theories" despite the fact that spraying has also occurred in Sweden via the Esrange space base in Kiruna.
