The debate over the permanent location of the U.S. Space Command headquarters is reigniting, with significant political implications. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) asserts that the Trump administration is poised to overturn the Biden administration's decision to keep the command in Colorado Springs and relocate it to Huntsville, Alabama.
This assertion is fueled by a recently released Department of Defense Inspector General report detailing the complex history of the basing decision. According to Rogers, this report reveals that despite extensive deliberation, the Secretary of the Air Force never issued a formal directive to relocate Space Command to Alabama, although Air Force analysis favored Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. Rogers emphasized in an April 14 statement that the Air Force's analysis indicated Huntsville would save taxpayers $420 million.
Since its inception in 2019, U.S. Space Command has been temporarily based in Colorado Springs. The command is crucial for military space operations and protecting American space assets against adversaries like China and Russia. Colorado's Republican House delegation, however, strongly opposes a move, warning that relocating the command would severely disrupt operations during a critical time for space security.
“We are in a different spot than we were a few years ago. Space Command’s rightful home is in Colorado, where, since 2023, it has been fully operational and an invaluable asset to America’s military,” stated Reps. Jeff Crank, Lauren Boebert, Jeff Hurd and Gabe Evans in a joint statement on April 15. They also raised concerns about potential civilian personnel losses, impacting the command’s effectiveness “during a time when our foreign adversaries pose a real risk to our national security.”
The dispute began in January 2021 when the Trump administration designated Huntsville as the preferred location. The Biden administration reversed this decision in 2023, prompting criticism from Rogers who argued it lacked transparency and ignored potential cost savings. During an April 8 podcast appearance, Rogers expressed his belief that the Trump administration would soon announce the relocation to Huntsville, upholding the initial selection process.
Rep. Crank recently led a letter from Colorado’s Republican House delegation to President Trump, urging him to keep Space Command in Colorado Springs, underscoring the state’s determined efforts to retain the prestigious military headquarters.