US Space Command To Stay In Colorado

President Biden has brought an end to the prolonged dispute over the location of the U.S. Space Command headquarters by announcing that it will remain in Colorado Springs, and not move to Huntsville, Alabama.

The decision was made after careful consideration of the views of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other senior military officials, according to a statement released by the Pentagon.

"Following a thorough 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 selected Colorado Springs as the permanent location of the U.S. Space Command headquarters” - Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, Pentagon Spokesman

The conflict began in January 2021 when the Department of the Air Force, in the final days of the Trump presidency, recommended relocating Space Command from Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. This recommendation sparked intense debate and led to two separate independent reviews, with congressional delegations from both states fiercely advocating for their respective locations.

U.S. Space Command plays a crucial role in providing satellite-based services to the U.S. military and safeguarding those assets from foreign threats. Its activation in August 2019 aimed to oversee military operations in the space domain, making the decision over its headquarters a matter of national security importance.

“Secretary Austin, Secretary of the Air Force Kendall, and U.S. Space Command commander Gen. James Dickinson all support the President’s decision” - Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, Pentagon Spokesman

Colorado lawmakers expressed their approval of President Biden's decision. They had long alleged that the Trump administration had unduly influenced the relocation process and claimed that the Air Force's basing process did not adequately consider the concerns of senior military officials, who worried that moving the headquarters could delay reaching full operational capability.

"Today’s decision restores integrity to the Pentagon’s basing process and sends a strong message that national security and the readiness of our Armed Forces drive our military decisions” - Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)

“after two investigations and rigorous review by the Department of Defense, the administration has made the decision that’s in our country’s best interest.” - Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.)

However, Alabama lawmakers are not ready to give up the fight.

“This fight is far from over...Huntsville, Alabama was chosen to be the headquarters of U.S. Space Command because it was the strongest location and investigations by the DoD IG and GAO have upheld this decision. Yet, the Biden administration decided to make Colorado Springs, Colorado, which came in fifth in the selection phase, the location of the headquarters for U.S. Space Command." - Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) 

As President Biden's decision is finalized, the contentious battle over the U.S. Space Command headquarters location may have come to a conclusion, but the debate between the two states is likely to continue, with Alabama representatives vowing to push back against the outcome.