SWORM

Space Weather Operations, Research and Mitigation Subcommittee

News archive

SWORM Interagency Working Group

The Space Weather Operations, Research, and Mitigation (SWORM) Interagency Working Group (IWG) is a Federal interagency body organized under the Space Weather, Security, and Hazards Subcommittee, which is part of the U.S. National Science and Technology Council, under the Committee on Homeland and National Security.

Pursuant to Executive Order 13744, the SWORM Subcommittee was chartered in 2016 to coordinate Federal Government departments and agencies to meet the goals and objectives specified in the National Space Weather Strategy (NSWS) (October 2015) and the activities defined in the National Space Weather Action Plan (NSWAP) (October 2015). When the follow-on National Space Weather Strategy and Action Plan (this link takes you to a non-SWORM website) was released in 2019, the SWORM Subcommittee became the SWORM IWG, performing essentially the same functions. The IWG also provides space-weather focused input to the National Planning Frameworks called for by Presidential Policy Directive 8 (PPD-8): National Preparedness (2011) (this link takes you to a non-SWORM website), the national critical infrastructure resilience initiatives identified in PPD-21: Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (2013), and any other relevant policies.

SWORM activities are conducted through the IWG and three Subworking Groups (SWGs). Each SWG supports one of the three goals for the National Space Weather Strategy and Action Plan. The three goals are:

1. Enhance the Protection of National Security, Homeland Security, and Commercial Assets and Operations Against the Effects of Space Weather;
2. Develop and Disseminate Accurate and Timely Space Weather Characterization and Forecasts; and,
3. Establish Plans and Procedures for Responding to and Recovering from Space Weather Events.

The following agencies are involved in SWORM activities:

Departments

• Department of Commerce
• Department of Defense
• Department of Energy
• Department of Homeland Security
• Department of Justice
• Department of the Interior
• Department of State
• Department of Transportation

Agencies and Service Branches

• Federal Aviation Administration
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Federal Communications Commission
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Federal Railroad Administration
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• National Science Foundation
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Office of the Director of National Intelligence
• United States Air Force
• United States Geological Survey
• United States Navy
• United States Postal Service

Executive Office of the President

• National Security Council
• Office of Management and Budget
• Office of Science and Technology Policy (Co-chair)
• White House Military Office

Please note that SWORM Interagency Working Group and Subworking Group meetings are not open to the public.