Still, claims of weather-control technology, once confined to relatively fringe circles, have gained some traction in the Republican Party. In some states, conservative politicians have passed laws that allude to fringe ideas and seek to ban geoengineering, which is used to counteract the effects of climate change.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on Thursday the launch of new agency websites to address the public’s questions about weather modifications, particularly geoengineering and contrails.