WASHINGTON — President Biden finally settled the drawn-out fight over the situation of U.S. Space Command headquarters: It’s staying in Colorado Springs, and never moving to Huntsville, Alabama.
Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder in a press release July 31 said Biden made the choice after considering the views of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other senior military officials.
“Following a radical and deliberate evaluation process, and after consultation with Secretary Austin and weighing the input of senior military leaders, President Biden notified the Department of Defense that he has chosen Colorado Springs because the everlasting location of the U.S. Space Command headquarters,” Ryder said.
“Secretary Austin, Secretary of the Air Force Kendall, and U.S. Space Command commander Gen. James Dickinson all support the President’s decision,” Ryder noted.
This announcement caps greater than two years of bitter wrangling between congressional delegations.
It began in January 2021 when the Department of the Air Force in the ultimate days of the Trump presidency advisable that Space Command, currently positioned at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, move to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.
Trump’s advice resulted in two separate independent reviews, and back-and-forth arguments between congressional representatives from each states.
Space Command is accountable for providing satellite-based services to the U.S. military and for safeguarding those assets from foreign threats. It was activated in August 2019 to oversee military operations within the space domain.
Ryder said DoD supported keeping the command in Colorado to avoid disruptions that might undermine “readiness within the space domain for our nation during a critical period.”
Fighting not over
Colorado lawmakers on Monday hailed Biden’s decision. For greater than two years they alleged that the Trump administration improperly influenced the choice and that the Air Force’s basing process didn’t bear in mind senior military officials’ concerns that the relocation would add years to Space Command efforts to achieve full operational capability as soon as possible.
“Today’s decision restores integrity to the Pentagon’s basing process and sends a powerful message that national security and the readiness of our Armed Forces drive our military decisions,” Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) said in a press release.
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) said that “after two investigations and rigorous review by the Department of Defense, the administration has made the choice that’s in our country’s best interest.”
“I commend the Biden administration for prioritizing national security above political interests,” said Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.). “This decision aligns with the most effective military advice of countless senior military leaders.”
Alabama lawmakers are vowing to keep off.
“This fight is way from over,” said. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), who chairs the House Armed Services Committee.
“Huntsville, Alabama was chosen to be the headquarters of U.S. Space Command since it was the strongest location and investigations by the DoD IG and GAO have upheld this decision,” said Rogers. “Yet, the Biden administration decided to make Colorado Springs, Colorado, which got here in fifth in the choice phase, the situation of the headquarters for U.S. Space Command.”
“I’ll proceed to carry the Biden administration accountable for his or her egregious political meddling in our national security,” Rogers added.