Top Air Force Officials Punt on Trump’s “Space Forceâ€
By Marcia Smith | Posted: March 14, 2018 11:57 pm ET | Last Updated: March 15, 2018 12:29 am ET
https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/top-air-force-officials-punt-on-trumps-space-force/The top civilian and military leaders of the Air Force punted today when asked about President Trump’s comments yesterday calling for creation of a Space Force. The Air Force and other Pentagon officials have been stridently opposing congressional efforts to create a Space Corps or other unique entity to execute DOD space activities for the past year.
Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein appeared before the House Appropriations Committee’s Defense Subcommittee for the annual review of the Air Force’s budget request.
Wilson, Goldfein and other DOD officials, including Mattis, have insisted that while they agree changes need to be made, at this time it is critical to integrate space with DOD’s other warfighting domains (land, sea, air and cyber), not separate it. The Trump Administration opposed creation of a Space Corps in its Statement of Administration Policy on the House bill. The House passed it nonetheless, but the Senate did not agree. The final version of the bill requires a study that is to be submitted by the end of this year. Rogers and Cooper said last week that they intend to continue their efforts.