Something is going on in Washington. The Senate Sergeant at Arms has provided satellite phones to many senators for emergency communications. But this forces us to wonder why? What’s going on? What do they know about that we don’t know about? According to CBS News, all 100 senators have been given the option to use satellite phone technology. The Senate administrative team recommends that senators take them along on their travels, and at least 50% have reportedly agreed to do so.

Last month, Senate Sergeant at Arms Karen Gibson testified to the Senate Appropriations Committee, stating that during a crisis situation, satellite communication is being used as a secure backup mode of communication. According to Gibson, these phones serve as a backup and secure way of communicating during a crisis throughout certain areas of the country. The expense of satellite airtime, necessary to operate the phones, will be taken care of by federal resources.

The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement stating that satellite phones can be used to coordinate government services during a communication blackout caused by a natural or man-made disaster. At the time, Gibson was appointed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Satellite mobile phones connect with landline, cellular, or other satellite phones globally. During emergencies in remote areas with no phone networks or when existing networks are damaged or overwhelmed by disasters or other incidents, responders use them to coordinate response and recovery efforts. These incidents can include severe weather, earthquakes, or potential chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive events.

According to government officials, using satellite phones during emergencies can preserve command and control abilities even when regular communication networks are down.

The measures being taken suggest that senators are facing a high level of perceived threat. This could be due to a tumultuous political climate and greater chances of violence or disruptive events. Satellite phones are typically used when regular communication channels are unavailable, like during natural disasters or major attacks. Providing these phones indicates that there may be an expected risk of such severe disruptions occurring, which may raise concerns about the reliability of existing communication networks.

The money used to pay for these security measures comes from the taxes that taxpayers pay. Since budgets are already limited because of important needs like healthcare, education, and infrastructure, the increasing expenses of keeping such strong security measures in place should be a cause for concern.