Graphical Abstract Highlights d Silica impairs host control of M. tuberculosis infection via a type 2 immune response d Extracellular DNA potentiates silica-induced exacerbation of M. tuberculosis infection d Silica primes STING activation, potentiating the response to M. tuberculosis DNA d Both host and M. tuberculosis DNA trigger cGAS/STING/ IFNI-mediated type 2 immunity SUMMARY Lung inflammation induced by silica impairs host control of tuberculosis, yet the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that silicadriven exacerbation of M. tuberculosis infection associates with raised type 2 immunity. Silica increases pulmonary Th2 cell and M2 macrophage responses, while reducing type 1 immunity after M. tuberculosis infection. Silica induces lung damage that prompts extracellular self-DNA release and activates STING. This STING priming potentiates M. tuberculosis DNA sensing by and activation of cGAS/STING, which triggers enhanced type I interferon (IFNI) response and type 2 immunity. cGAS-, STING-, and IFNAR-deficient mice are resistant to silica-induced exacerbation of M. tuberculosis infection. Thus, silica-induced self-DNA primes the host response to M. tuberculosis-derived nucleic acids, which increases type 2 immunity while reducing type 1 immunity, crucial for controlling M. tuberculosis infection. These data show how cGAS/STING pathway activation, at the crossroads of sterile inflammation and infection, may affect the host response to pathogens such as M. tuberculosis.