President Joe Biden has made the decision to maintain the U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado, despite the Trump administration’s plan to relocate it to Alabama. This move comes after months of heated debate and political tension. Senior U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Biden was influenced by the head of Space Command, Gen. James Dickinson, who argued that relocating at this time would disrupt military readiness. While Air Force leadership believed that moving to Huntsville, Alabama, was the right choice, Biden prioritized stability and the need to compete with China in space.
Biden’s decision is likely to anger Alabama lawmakers and lead to allegations that abortion politics influenced the choice. The location debate has become intertwined with the ongoing conflict between Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville and the Defense Department over providing travel for troops seeking reproductive health care. However, the U.S. officials emphasized that the abortion issue had no bearing on Biden’s decision, and he anticipated varying views within the Defense Department.
The U.S. Space Command was established in August 2019 and temporarily based in Colorado. Initially, both the Air Force and Space Force leaders recommended that it stay there. However, in the final days of his presidency, Donald Trump decided to move it to Huntsville. This prompted further reviews and discussions.
Supporters of keeping the command in Colorado argued that relocating to Huntsville and establishing a new headquarters would impede its progress, especially as it urgently needs to keep pace with China’s military space advancements. Furthermore, Colorado Springs is home to the Air Force Academy, which now produces Space Force guardians, as well as 24 military space missions and three Space Force bases.
Officials also pointed out that constructing a new headquarters in Alabama would not be completed before 2030, resulting in a lengthy transition. However, Huntsville scored higher than Colorado Springs in a Government Accountability Office assessment of potential locations and has a long history in the nation’s space programs, including being the birthplace of early missiles and hosting the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and Gen. James Dickinson held differing opinions on the matter, with Kendall leaning toward Huntsville and Dickinson advocating for staying in Colorado. Both options were presented to President Biden by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
This decision has been met with approval from Colorado lawmakers, who believe that Peterson Space Force Base is the most suitable location for the Space Command. Sen. John Hickenlooper expressed satisfaction that national security, rather than politics, was the determining factor in the decision. Sen. Michael Bennet added that the choice restores integrity to the Pentagon’s basing process and prioritizes national security and military readiness.
Overall, President Biden’s choice to keep the U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado represents a strategic decision to prioritize stability and readiness in the face of increasing competition in space, while also considering the views of various stakeholders within the Defense Department.
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