Alabama readies for battle over Space Command HQ
by Brad Dress - 08/06/23 5:16 PM ETAlabama’s congressional delegation is fuming after President Biden nixed the relocation of U.S. Space Command headquarters to their state and have warned the fight is far from over.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, launched an investigation this week into the motives behind the decision after publicly alleging Biden’s choice was political.
Lawmakers also accuse the Biden administration of improperly building up the Colorado Springs temporary headquarters before making the final decision that scuttled the move to Huntsville, Ala.
“It is clear the Biden administration cares more about advancing their far-left agenda than the security of our nation,” Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “We will not give up this fight because Space Command belongs in Huntsville.”
It’s unclear what legislative or legal action can be taken even if the lawmakers uncover evidence of any improper decisionmaking. Congress is still working through the annual defense bill that could technically defund programs or stipulate certain conditions related to Space Command.
Biden’s decision means a major loss of economic stimulus that would have been brought to Huntsville from a new military headquarters — an estimated 1,400 jobs for an estimated annual $1 billion economic impact.
The Biden administration’s official rationale was that relocating the headquarters would take years, possibly up to the mid-2030s, which would impact military readiness. In contrast, the headquarters at Colorado Springs can become operational in a month.
more
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4138484-alabama-readies-for-battle-over-space-command-hq/
