Trump Renews Hope Of Space Command Hq Reset With Alabama Lawmakers

Alabama's congressional lawmakers are sounding optimistic about winning back the U.S. Space Command headquarters after a Biden-era tug-of-war with Colorado.  

With President-elect Trump's return, those Republican lawmakers are eyeing a reset to Huntsville, Ala., the site initially chosen during Trump's first term but spurned when President Biden chose to keep the headquarters at its temporary location in Colorado Springs. 

But Colorado lawmakers are also now calling for the incoming Trump administration to avoid what they consider a drastic change that will impact military readiness. 

Lawmakers from both states pitched their sides in statements to The Hill this week, showing there is a returning battle over the estimated $1 billion annual economic impact of Space Command’s headquarters, which brings some 1,400 jobs. 

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), the chair of the House Armed Services Committee who led a hearing on Biden’s Space Command decision in September 2023, said he was “incredibly excited” to work with Trump on relocating to Huntsville, which he argued has proven to be the “best location.” 

“When President Biden tried to reverse that decision, he was putting his far-left politics above national security as he did in so many other circumstances. Now, the American people have resoundingly chosen President Trump and his policies,” he said. 

“I am increasingly optimistic that we will see Space Command come home to the Yellowhammer State,” said Rogers, who previously said that Trump could reverse the HQ decision in his first week of office. 

Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) said previous investigations have proven that “Colorado Springs is the best place for Space Command because it’s already at work here.” 

“Alabama couldn’t win this fight on the merits, so they’re trying to get Trump to overrule our national security and cost taxpayers an enormous amount for the sake of a hometown win,” he said. “We need leaders who fight for our national defense first, not just Huntsville’s economy.” 

The public spat over Space Command, one of 11 combatant command centers under the U.S. military, is now poised to continue through three administrations.

Trump, who re-established Space Command in 2019, chose a temporary HQ at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. In January 2021, just days before leaving office, he selected Redstone Arsenal base in Huntsville for a permanent spot. 

Democrats accused Trump of choosing Alabama for partisan reasons because he enjoys more political support in the Yellowhammer State. And the president-elect himself said that “I love Alabama,” and “single-handedly" chose the state when later asked about his Space Command decision. 

But a 2022 Government Accountability Office report found the Trump process was largely fair and consistent with military recommendations, though it could have used more transparency. A Defense Department inspector general report also found no issues. 

Rep. Dale Strong (R-Ala.) said Trump’s initial decision was “based purely on merit and what is best for national security.” 

“Huntsville won each phase of an in-depth selection process by a wide margin,” Strong said. “I am confident that President Trump will continue to do what is best for national security and fulfill his initial decision to bring Space Command to North Alabama." 

The Hill has contacted members of the Trump transition team for comment on a potential decision for Space Command’s home. 

Part of Biden’s justification for keeping Space Command in Colorado was because it would save time and money, and thus was a national security priority to ensure the headquarters was up and running without delay. 

Biden, in his statement announcing his decision in the summer of 2023, said it would take Space Command up to the mid-2030s to be fully operational in Huntsville, while it would take just a month in Colorado. 

Hickenlooper agreed. 

“U.S. Space Command is at full operational capability and has been for nearly a year. Dedicated service members and civilians are working around the clock at Peterson Space Force Base to keep our country safe in space,” he said. 

And other Colorado lawmakers, including Republicans, are urging the Trump administration to reconsider any change to the HQ location. 

Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) said that Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs has been the home of Space Command since 1985, when it was a command center specifically under the Air Force until dissolution in 2002. 

“As the world becomes more dangerous, we cannot afford any lapse in combat readiness,” he said. "I’d urge our newly elected officials to consider these matters as they make crucial decisions in the coming months.” 

Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) has also said that moving Space Command now would “disrupt” military readiness. 

But Biden faced accusations of playing politics from Alabama politicians. They argued he chose Colorado for the same reasons as Trump. There were also reports that Biden would avoid Huntsville because of restrictive abortion laws in Alabama, but the president ultimately did not cite that factor in his 2023 decision.

Trump has the ultimate authority on the matter, though Congress can hold hearings and pull back money for construction.   

But Colorado is dominated by Democrats, who lost the House, Senate and White House in the 2024 nationwide elections. 

With the Republican Party taking back control of Congress, it’s unlikely that dissatisfied Democrats and Colorado lawmakers can make much of a headache for Trump on Capitol Hill, considering the House and Senate armed services committees are likely to back the incoming president’s wishes. 

Still, much of the command headquarters has already been built up, posing a challenge for the incoming Trump administration, which, if it decides to reverse, will have to completely uproot the HQ. In December, U.S. Space Command officials said it was fully operational in Colorado. 

The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024 restricted new funding for Space Command until the summer of this year, but millions of dollars have already been spent. 

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told House lawmakers last year that “losing civilian workforce and having to reestablish a trained workforce at the new location” would have a serious impact on military operational capabilities. 

GOP lawmakers in Alabama are still pushing for the change. They have long argued that Huntsville properly finished in first place in the Air Force’s selection process carried out under the Trump administration.

Huntsville is known as Rocket City for its history as a spot for space rocket construction and has a robust aerospace and space workforce in the community.

Sen. Katie Britt said Huntsville “hast the most advantages” and that she expects Space Command to “come home to Alabama where it belongs.” 

“President Trump will cast aside President Biden’s partisan political considerations and restore the Air Force’s merit-based decision to select Redstone Arsenal as the permanent basing location for Space Command HQ,” she said. 

Rep. Barry Moore added he was “optimistic about working with President Trump and the Alabama delegation to bring Space Command back to its rightful home.”