"The balloon continues to move eastward and is currently over the center of the continental United States. Again, we currently assess that the balloon does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground at this time," Ryder said.
"It'll probably be over the United States for a few days," he added.
AFTER CHINESE BALLOON ENTERS US AIRSPACE, BIDEN SECRETARY OF STATE POSTPONES TRIP TO CHINA
Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder holds a press briefing at the Pentagon on Oct. 18, 2022, in Arlington, Virginia. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The balloon is currently flying about 60,000 ft. above sea level, higher than civilian air traffic flies.
Ryder was asked repeatedly for more details, but he refused to get into specifics about the balloon's location.
"The public certainly has the ability to look up in the sky and see where the balloon is," he said.
The Biden administration has condemned the presence of a Chinese surveillance aircraft in U.S. airspace as a violation of U.S. sovereignty.
CHINA CONFIRMS BALLOON IS THEIRS, AS SPOKESPERSON CLAIMS IT IS CIVILLIAN RESEARCH AIRSHIP
A balloon flies in the sky over Billings, Montana, Feb. 1, 2023, in this picture obtained from social media. (Chase Doak/via Reuters)
Senior State Department officials have called the incident "unacceptable," and Secretary of State Antony Blinken has indefinitely postponed a planned trip to China to meet President Xi jinping in light of the circumstances.
Officials in the State and Defense Departments have said the government is maintaining contact with the People's Republic of China and has "clearly communicated that this balloon is violating U.S. airspace and international law, and that this is unacceptable."
CHINESE SPY BALLOON ENTERS US AIRSPACE: WHAT WE KNOW
President Biden, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands before their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit meeting, Nov. 14, 2022, in Nusa Dua, in Bali, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry claimed the balloon was a civilian weather aircraft that was knocked off course, but U.S. officials dispute this claim.
Senior State Department officials said Friday it was a "statement of fact" that China has violated U.S. sovereignty with this surveillance balloon.
Ryder would not say if the military would shoot the balloon down once it travels over a body of water where it would not cause collateral damage.