The Secretary of the Air Force could soon be under a congressional mandate to report all money spent or obligated on U.S. Space Command’s startup headquarters in Colorado under a requirement advanced by U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R- Alabama) in a Senate budget review today.
“It’s far past time for the Pentagon to announce a final basing decision on the permanent location for Space Command Headquarters,” Britt said in a statement. “Time and time again, objective analysis has confirmed that Redstone Arsenal is the best location for America’s national security interests. With this report language, we can help ensure that politics is kept out of this process.”
Under the Britt requirement introduced during review of the 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,, the Secretary of the Air Force would have 90 days to report all funds spent or obligated “towards the construction, renovation, and improvement of facilities for Space Command Headquarters.” Britt said, “This will ensure Air Force leaders remain accountable to Congress and are clearly following the multiple independent reviews that have named Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville as the best location for this critical facility,”
The amendment would also reinforce a move by U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R- Ala., to freeze all spending on the command in Colorado. Rogers moved that spending freeze forward in the House this week.
Britt’s addition to the Senate spending bill comes as Alabama’s delegation pursues reports, including one on NBC news, that the head of the Space Command is “building out his command headquarters in Colorado.” According to that report, Gen. James Dickinson, commander of Space Command, has started a review on whether the command has already reached Full Operational Capability, meaning it could perform its mission indefinitely in Colorado Springs.
But Alabama lawmakers who met with Dickinson after that report say the general “confirmed” to them that he thinks the headquarters belongs on Redstone.
Redstone ranked above Colorado Springs in a required Pentagon rating process that weighed bases across the country, but Colorado reportedly remains the favorite of some military leaders. A Defense Department inspector general’s office review said the selection process pointing to Redstone was reasonable, but former President Trump added to the base debate by saying he personally chose Alabama.
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