A new report from NBC News claims the Biden administration plans to keep the headquarters of U.S. Space Command from moving to Alabama.
This is due, according to anonymous sources quoted in the story, to Alabama’s law restricting abortions in almost all cases.
Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal was chosen as the headquarters by former President Donald Trump. The decision has been under review by the U.S. Air Force since President Joe Biden took office.
In March, the Air Force announced plans for additional analysis on Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal's qualifications as the hopeful new home of Space Command. This is despite the multiple independent reviews showing that Huntsville is the top location in the nation.
Space Command is currently in Colorado Springs, Colorado. That’s where Biden wants it to stay, according to the NBC report.
Previous studies by the Biden administration concluded Alabama was chosen fairly and not due to any improper influence from Trump before he left office.
Alabama U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville has repeatedly pushed in committee and other hearings for a final confirmation of Huntsville as the new headquarters.
"Unfortunately, partisan politics and sore loser syndrome has got in the way and slowed down the official relocations of Space Com," Tuberville said in March.
Tuberville has been in the spotlight recently for putting a hold on Department of Defense promotions because of the department's less-restrictive abortion policy.
Shortly after the story was released, Alabama leaders began issuing statements to WAAY:
Gov. Kay Ivey:
“Alabama is the only choice for Space Command Headquarters — no ifs, ands or buts about it. The contest wasn’t even close.
"The Pentagon knows it. And the White House knows it. I’ll keep saying it, and Alabama will keep proving it until HQ is officially in Huntsville.”
Sen. Tuberville:
"This article confirms what we’ve known all along—Huntsville is the best place for U.S. Space Command. To reverse the decision to permanently locate SPACECOM to Huntsville would be politics at its worst.”
Alabama U.S. Sen. Katie Britt:
“President Biden’s plans would irresponsibly yank a military decision out of the Air Force’s hands in the name of partisan politics,” said Britt.
“Huntsville finished first in both the Air Force’s Evaluation Phase and Selection Phase, leaving no doubt that the Air Force’s decision to choose Redstone as the preferred basing location was correct purely on the merits. That decision should remain in the Air Force’s purview. Instead, President Biden is now trying to hand the Gold Medal to the fifth-place finisher. The President’s blatant prioritization of partisan political considerations at the expense of our national security, military modernization, and force readiness is a disservice and a dishonor to his oath of office as our nation’s Commander-in-Chief.
"Locating the permanent Space Command Headquarters on Redstone Arsenal undoubtedly remains in the best national security interest of the United States. President Biden should allow the Air Force to proceed with doing its job. Alabama’s world-class aerospace and defense workforce, capabilities, and synergies stand ready to fulfill the mission and strengthen our national security long into the future.”
Alabama U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt:
“This report, if true, is very concerning for national security. This is the second article in two months discussing the possibility of Space Command remaining in Colorado. After the previous article, I questioned Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall directly during a hearing, and he assured us that the Space Command basing decision was his, and his alone. He told me that President Biden had put the decision squarely in his hands. I would like to know what has changed in the past two months.”
Alabama U.S. Rep. Dale Strong:
“When the Air Force looked at what was in the best interest of national security, they chose Redstone Arsenal to house U.S. Space Command headquarters. Any deviation from that is a slight against those serving in uniform. I’ve seen all the reviews and reports on the basing process – but don’t remember access to late-term abortions being one of the 21 criteria used to evaluate the sites.
“The White House’s inaction and handwringing have brought the consequence of a more than two-year delay for the final basing decision for Space Command. Each passing day is another reminder that the Biden Administration is willing to prioritize bowing down to political pressure over what is best for the military and national defense.
“If it is now Department of Defense policy to punish conservative states implementing the will of their voters, I’d suggest that Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, Arizona, Louisiana, Wyoming, Arkansas, Kentucky, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, and Utah start calling the Pentagon to ask if they should be worried about their installations.”
Read the full report HERE
A conceptual rendering of the proposed facility for U.S. Space Command Headquarters.
A map showing the 60-acre site where the U.S. Space Command headquarters would be if built at Redstone Arsenal.
A possible site layout for the headquarters of U.S. Space Command
