Biden decides to keep Space Command in Colorado, rejecting move to Huntsville, AL, officials tell AP
Senior U.S. officials say President Joe Biden has decided to keep the U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado.
President Joe Biden has decided to keep U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado, overturning a last-ditch decision by the Trump administration to move it to Alabama and ending months of politically fueled debate, according to senior U.S. officials.
The officials said Biden was convinced by the head of Space Command, Gen. James Dickinson, who argued that moving his headquarters now would jeopardize military readiness. Dickinson's view, however, was in contrast to Air Force leadership, who studied the issue at length and determined that relocating to Huntsville, Alabama, was the right move.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the decision ahead of the announcement.
The president, they said, believes that keeping the command in Colorado Springs would avoid a disruption in readiness that the move would cause, particularly as the U.S. races to compete with China in space. And they said Biden firmly believes that maintaining stability will help the military be better able to respond in space over the next decade.
Biden's decision is sure to enrage Alabama lawmakers and fuel accusations that abortion politics played a role in the choice. The location debate has become entangled in the ongoing battle between Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville and the Defense Department over the move to provide travel for troops seeking reproductive health care. Tuberville opposed the policy is blocking hundreds of military promotions in protest.
Alabama Leaders Comment Local and State leaders comment on Space Command decision
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), the ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, today released a statement condemning President Biden’s politically motivated decision to block the United States Air Force from finalizing its decision to name Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, as the permanent location for the headquarters of U.S. Space Command. Senator Britt reiterated her longstanding public stance that Redstone remains the best permanent HQ location for Space Command to advance America’s vital national security interests.
“President Biden has irresponsibly decided to yank a military decision out of the Air Force’s hands in the name of partisan politics,” said Senator Katie Britt. “Huntsville finished first in both the Air Force’s Evaluation Phase and Selection Phase, leaving no doubt that the Air Force’s decision to choose Redstone as the preferred basing location was correct purely on the merits. That decision should have remained in the Air Force’s purview. Instead, President Biden is now trying to hand the Gold Medal to the fifth-place finisher. The President’s blatant prioritization of partisan political considerations at the expense of our national security, military modernization, and force readiness is a disservice and a dishonor to his oath of office as our nation’s Commander-in-Chief. Locating the permanent Space Command Headquarters on Redstone Arsenal undoubtedly remains in the best national security interest of the United States. President Biden should allow the Air Force to proceed with doing its job. Alabama’s world-class aerospace and defense workforce, capabilities, and synergies stand ready to fulfill the mission and strengthen our national security long into the future.”
U.S. Representative Dale Strong (AL-05), a member of House Armed Services Committee, released a statement following the Biden Administration’s decision to locate U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) Headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“It is clear to anyone who has looked at the facts: Huntsville, Alabama is the best place for U.S. Space Command Headquarters. Repeated investigations and objective reviews have proven that to be the case. It is shameful that the Biden Administration is ignoring what is best for our nation’s security and is instead using their woke agenda to make this decision. To this point, the administration has refused to answer questions brought forth by the House Armed Services Committee’s investigation of their actions in this process. If they think this will go away... they are wrong. I will ensure they have to explain their actions and answer our questions on the record. I want to thank Chairman Mike Rogers and the entire Alabama delegation, as we stand united to get answers for Alabamians.”
Following the announcement that the Biden administration is choosing to keep Space Command in Colorado instead of moving it to Alabama, Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06) released the following statement:
“This decision made by the Biden Administration is unacceptable,” said Rep. Palmer. “When making decisions, the administration has continuously put politics over what is best for the nation. The Department of Defense determined that Huntsville, Alabama, was the best location for Space Command long ago. Instead, they are picking Colorado, the fifth best option by their very own report. Not only is this decision another broken promise and the result of political gamesmanship, but it jeopardizes our nation’s national security and sets a dangerous precedent for future decisions made solely based on political preference. This fight is not over. Space Command belongs in the location best suited to host it, the Rocket City.”
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle released the following statement:
“We are deeply disappointed in the reversal of a meticulous decision-making process that selected Huntsville, Alabama for the permanent home of USSPACECOM. This community went through a lengthy selection process – twice. To have that process invalidated, and to have our selection taken away is demoralizing. It is even more disturbing that the selection is going to the community that ranked fifth in the selection process. Our systems should be better than that. The Department of Defense deserves better than that.
"No matter where USSPACECOM resides, Huntsville will move forward and continue to be a good neighbor with our national military partners. We fully support our military and aerospace sectors and will work to ensure Huntsville remains a key component in furthering USSPACECOM’s mission on the national and global stage.”
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Formally created in August 2019, the command was temporarily based in Colorado, and Air Force and Space Force leaders initially recommended it stay there. In the final days of his presidency Donald Trump decided it should be based in Huntsville.
The change triggered a number of reviews.
Proponents of keeping the command in Colorado have argued that moving it to Huntsville and creating a new headquarters would set back its progress at a time it needs to move quickly to be positioned to match China’s military space rise. And Colorado Springs is also home to the Air Force Academy, which now graduates Space Force guardians, and more than 24 military space missions, including three Space Force bases.
Huntsville, however, scored higher than Colorado Springs in a Government Accountability Office assessment of potential locations and has long been a home to some of earliest missiles used in the nation’s space programs, including the Saturn V rocket. It is home to the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command.
Business Leaders Comment on Space Command Business leaders comment on Space Command decision
The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber released a statement that said, in part:
The communities of the Tennessee Valley region are disappointed by reports that the White House has reversed a decision that would have moved Space Command headquarters to Redstone Arsenal, as two lengthy selection processes recommended. The decision to base the interim Space Command headquarters at Peterson AFB was based on shortterm factors. Laying claim to this important Command based on where the interim headquarters is located is a disservice to the complexity of the basing decision-making process. The permanent basing assessment considered affordability, efficiency, best value and how to maximize existing long-term, multi-discipline space expertise and mission success.
At the same time, the basing study carefully considered the strategic risks created by collocating two Unified Combatant Commands (COCOMs) in a potentially vulnerable location. Suggestions that the Services of our military cannot rapidly, affordably, and efficiently execute major mission relocations without adversely impacting mission effectiveness is incorrect. The BRAC consolidations at Redstone in the 1990s and 2000s gave the Services significant experience in moving activities efficiently and without adverse impact on mission capability during relocations. The successful wartime relocation of the four-star Army Materiel Command demonstrates the ability of the Tennessee Valley community to effectively support the DOD in achieving its objectives without compromising its mission.
“We are deeply disappointed in the reversal of a meticulous decision-making process that selected Huntsville, Alabama for the permanent home of USSPACECOM,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “This community went through a lengthy selection process – twice. To have that process invalidated, and to have our selection taken away is demoralizing. It is even more disturbing that the selection is going to the community that ranked fifth in the selection process. Our systems should be better than that. The Department of Defense deserves better than that.” “No matter where USSPACECOM resides, Huntsville will move forward and continue to be a good neighbor with our national military partners,” Mayor Battle added. “We fully support our military and aerospace sectors and will work to ensure Huntsville remains a key component in furthering USSPACECOM’s mission on the national and global stage."
According to officials, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, who ordered his own review of the matter, leaned toward Huntsville, while Dickinson was staunchly in favor of staying put. The officials said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin presented both options to Biden.