COLORADO SPRINGS (KOAA) — Former President Trump's announcement to make Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville Alabama the permanent home of the U.S. Space Command has leaders on the local, state, and congressional levels making calls for changes.
It's a process getting attention across the country and it could have lasting impacts on Colorado.
Background
Oftentimes U.S. Space Command and U.S. Space Force are thought to be the same part of the military- but there are key differences.
U.S. Space Force: this is the newest and sixth branch of the U.S. military, much like all branches of the military, is headquartered at the Pentagon.
U.S. Space Command: this is one of eleven combatant commands in the military focusing on all aspects of space within each branch of the military.
Timeline
In May 2020, President Trump named Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs the provisional headquarters of U.S. Space Command for the next six years.
By November 2020, six places across the country, including Peterson AFB were named as finalists.
January 2021, in the final days of the Trump administration, the former president named Huntsville, Alabama as the permanent location.
What's Next
After the announcement U.S. Space Command would be leaving Colorado, elected officials and community leaders have worked to make the case to the Biden administration.
Congressional, state, and community groups have urged President Biden to look into what led to the decision to move the headquarters from Colorado.
Colorado state lawmakers passed a memorial in the soft opening of its General Assembly session in January. The memorial urges the Biden administration to look into the decisions made.
Last week, Colorado's congressional delegation sent a letter to the Biden administration. The letter said the process to select Alabama was not fair or impartial citing political influence and concerns over national security if the headquarters were to leave Colorado.
