President Joe Biden has made the decision to keep the U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado, ending months of debate over its potential move to Alabama. This move overturns a decision made in the final days of the Trump administration to relocate the headquarters to Huntsville, Alabama. According to senior U.S. officials, President Biden was convinced by Gen. James Dickinson, the head of Space Command, who argued that moving the headquarters now would disrupt military readiness.
The decision comes as the U.S. faces increased competition with China in space. President Biden believes that maintaining stability and avoiding any disruption in readiness will better position the military to respond in space over the next decade. By keeping the command in Colorado Springs, the President aims to ensure that it can continue its progress without setbacks.
However, Biden’s decision is expected to anger Alabama lawmakers, who had been advocating for the command to be moved to Huntsville. This move has also fueled accusations that abortion politics played a role in the choice. Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville has been blocking military promotions in protest against the Defense Department’s move to provide travel for troops seeking reproductive health care.
The U.S. Space Command was officially established in August 2019 and was initially based in Colorado. It was temporarily located there while Air Force and Space Force leaders recommended that it should stay. However, in a last-minute decision, former President Trump directed that the command should be based in Huntsville, triggering a series of reviews.
Supporters of keeping the command in Colorado argued that moving it to Huntsville and creating a new headquarters would hinder its progress. They believe that it needs to swiftly position itself to match China’s military space rise. Colorado Springs is also home to the Air Force Academy, which now graduates Space Force guardians. Additionally, the area is host to over 24 military space missions, including three Space Force bases.
On the other hand, Huntsville scored higher than Colorado Springs in a Government Accountability Office assessment of potential locations. It has a historical association with the nation’s space programs and is home to the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, who conducted his own review of the matter, leaned toward Huntsville, while Dickinson strongly favored keeping the command in Colorado.
Both options were presented to President Biden by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and he ultimately decided to keep the U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado. This decision aims to prioritize stability and military readiness in the face of evolving challenges in space. While it may cause dissatisfaction among Alabama lawmakers, Biden’s choice reflects his commitment to maintaining the command’s progress and safeguarding the nation’s interests in space.
