Alabama lawmaker and Armed Services Committee chairman seeks answers on Space Command.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Invites Military Officials to Testify on Space Command Decision
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) has extended an invitation to relevant military officials to testify publicly in front of the committee regarding President Joe Biden’s recent decision to permanently house Space Command’s headquarters in Colorado instead of Alabama.
Biden’s decision, announced in late July, overturned a previous decision by the Trump administration to move Space Command’s headquarters to Alabama. Lawmakers from both Colorado and Alabama had been vying for their state to be chosen, leading up to the president’s decision. Alabama lawmakers swiftly denounced Biden’s choice, accusing him of making a politically motivated decision.
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In a statement on Tuesday, Chairman Rogers revealed that he has invited Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, Space Command Commander James Dickinson, and Space Force Chief of Space Operations Chance Saltzman to testify before the committee.
Rogers criticized Biden’s decision, claiming it was politically motivated and involved manipulation of the selection process. He argued that the president made the decision to improve his political standing for next year’s reelection.
“In May, I opened a Congressional investigation into the Biden administration’s shameful delay to finalize the chairman-demands-documents-on-space-command-colorado-decision/” title=”House Armed Services chairman requests documents on Space Command Colorado decision.”>permanent basing decision for U.S. Space Command. When the Secretary of the Air Force finally made a decision, he upheld his predecessors’ decision to base U.S. Space Command in Huntsville, Alabama. President Biden then usurped the Air Force Secretary’s authority and named Colorado Springs the permanent basing site for U.S. Space Command in order to improve his political standing for next year’s reelection,” the chairman said. “I have invited Secretary Kendall, General Dickinson, and General Saltzman to testify to the House Armed Services Committee in a public hearing. We will get answers on President Biden’s political manipulation of the selection process.”
The White House and National Security Council have denied allegations of political calculations influencing the president’s choice.
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), a member of the Armed Services Committee, has expressed support for Biden’s decision.
“U.S. Space Command belongs in Colorado Springs,” the congressman said at an event earlier this month celebrating Biden’s selection. “This decision is not just about Colorado or Colorado Springs, it is about what is best for our national security. As Russia and China are threatening our military, our economy, and our way of life, having USSPACECOM in Colorado Springs gives us the best chance to protect America.”
According to a senior administration official, the most significant factor in Biden’s decision was that Space Command would achieve “full operational capability” by the end of August, while the opening of the new site in Alabama would likely not occur until the early-to-mid 2030s.
“From the start, DOD and the Department of the Air Force have worked diligently to ensure the basing decision resulted from an objective and deliberate process informed by data and analysis, in compliance with federal law and DOD policy,” said Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder in a statement. “Secretary Austin, Secretary of the Air Force Kendall, and U.S. Space Command commander Gen. Dickinson all support the President’s decision.”
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