Alabama lawmaker are tightening the screwing in the ongoing struggle over the relocation of the Space Command HQ , a move that the current U.S. administration is looking to reverse due to the state ’s spartan anti - abortion law .
This week , Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Mike Rogers , an Alabama rep , released his proposedbillthat would not onlyrestrict spendingon the construction of the Space Command ’s current readiness in Colorado but also limit funds in other areas related to the military branch . The flyer could be part of on-going attempt to force the Department of Defense and the Air Force to come to a determination regarding the lasting fix of the Space Command headquarters .
President Joe Biden ’s administration isreportedlytrying to reverse a determination to relocate the Space Command ’s headquarters from Colorado to Huntsville , Alabama , largely due to concerns regarding the state ’s hard-and-fast anti - abortion law that was put into effect last summer . In December 2022 , the Biden administration directed the U.S. Air Force to conduct a review of the relocation determination , which was made by former President Donald Trump during his clip in office . For months now , the move to Alabama has been put on clutches pending the review .
Rep. Mike Rogers during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on 19 December 2024.Photo: Tom Williams (AP)
Alabama lawmakers have beenoutspokenagainst Biden ’s attempts to detain the decision and Congressman Rogers ’ propose bill , jazz as the president ’s mark , could be the tardy endeavour to add insistence on the White House .
The bill , which the committee will consider on June 21 , would limit stock “ to construct or modify facilities for irregular or permanent role by United States Space Command for headquarter surgery until the Secretary of the Air Force drive home a report on the selection of a permanent location to the congressional defense force committees , ” it states .
The pop the question greenback would also limit the change of location funds of the secretary of the Air Force until the legal transfer of the report .
The Space Command is still not fully operational but is set toreach full operationsby the end of the year . Senior military leaders have give tongue to business that relocate the Space Command ’s headquarters to Alabama could cut off its operations while staying in Colorado would allow it to reach full operational mental ability sooner , SpaceNewsreportedin March .
Officials in Alabama , however , are keen on having the Space Command based in their state . “ Let me repeat what everyone already bonk : Alabama is the only true family for Space Command Headquarters , ” Alabama Governor Kay Ivey wrote in astatementon May 30 .
The bill includes other restrictions aim at the Space Command . It would limit funds for the WGS-12 orbiter , stating that the secretary of the Air Force may not issue a declaration for the procurance of a WGS-12 satellite , part of a geostationary constellation by the U.S. Space Command , until it can certify that the requisite run across by the satellite can not be fulfilled by commercial providers .
Finally , the proposed bill would expect the Air Force to increase competition for phase three of the National Security Space Launch Program to provide “ chance for come forth launch providers while also assuring admittance to proven launch capability for low - risk of infection tolerant payloads , ” the draft State . The program is intended to provide payload from the Department of Defense and other authorities body with access to space .
Although it ’s easy to confuse them , the Space Command is different from theU.S. Space Force . It ’s a combatant command of the U.S. Department of Defense ( DOD ) to conduct “ operations in , from , and to blank space to deter conflict , and if necessary , defeat aggressiveness , deliver place combat power for the joint / combined force-out , and defend U.S. vital pursuit with friend and partners , ” fit in to the DOD .
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