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U.S. Senators Katie Britt, R-Ala., and Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., announced the introduction of a resolution in the Senate to recognize the fourth anniversary of the U.S. Air Force naming Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, as the preferred location for the U.S. Space Command, SPACECOM, headquarters.
The Senate resolution follows a similar effort led by U.S. Representative Dale Strong, R-Ala., in the House.
“The headquarters of U.S. Space Command belongs on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, and our resolution recognizes the Air Force’s original decision,” said Senator Britt. “Huntsville finished first in both the Air Force’s Evaluation Phase and Selection Phase, leaving no doubt the Air Force’s decision to choose Redstone as the preferred basing location was correct purely on the merits. Huntsville’s selection should have remained in the Air Force’s purview, but instead the Biden Administration irresponsibly yanked the decision away. The time for partisan politics at the expense of our national security is over, and President Trump’s imminent return to the White House will ensure American interests are protected once again. Alabama’s world-class aerospace and defense workforce, capabilities, and synergies in Huntsville remain the best possible location to fulfill the mission and strengthen our national security long into the future.”
Senator Tuberville echoed Britt’s criticism of the Biden Administration’s decision to keep SPACECOM in Colorado, calling it a move motivated by politics.
“Four years ago, the Secretary of the Air Force declared Huntsville, Alabama, as the best place for U.S. Space Command over six other locations considered,” said Tuberville. “Multiple military leaders and studies have made it abundantly clear that SPACECOM’s rightful home is in Huntsville, but Joe Biden decided to let politics get in the way of what is best for our national security and defense. As Alabama’s voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee, I will continue fighting to bring SPACECOM to its rightful home. I’m honored to join my Alabama colleagues in this effort.”
Rep. Dale Strong, R-AL-05, who led the introduction of the House resolution, said the basing decision made by the Air Force under the Trump Administration was backed by thorough assessments, yet was blocked under Biden.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, is the best possible location for U.S. Space Command,” said Strong. “This isn’t an opinion or a preference, it is a fact, supported by the basing process, which was proven credible and fair in two separate investigations. Four years ago today, under President Trump’s leadership, the Air Force announced Redstone Arsenal would host the headquarters, only for President Biden to subsequently slow roll the move and force the headquarters to stay at the fifth-best location. I have been involved with this basing process since day one, first as Chairman of the Madison County Commission, and for the past two years as your Congressman. It is my sincere hope that President Trump and his incoming administration will return to the facts and focus on what is best for our national security.”
The initial basing announcement, made on Jan. 13, 2021, declared that Huntsville had emerged as the top candidate out of six locations reviewed by the Air Force based on mission requirements, infrastructure capacity, community support, and cost considerations. The Air Force stated that Redstone Arsenal “compared favorably across more of these factors than any other community.”
Alabama’s Congressional Delegation has remained unified in its push to secure SPACECOM’s headquarters for the state. Representatives Barry Moore, R-AL-01, Robert Aderholt, R-AL-04, and Gary Palmer, R-AL-06, cosponsored the House version of the resolution.
“Four years ago today, Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, was rightfully selected as the #1 location for Space Command through a thorough and merit-based process under President Trump’s administration. This resolution recognizes that decision and condemns the Biden Administration’s partisan move to disregard what is best for national security,” said Moore. “I am committed to working with President Trump to bring Space Command back to its rightful home in Huntsville, Alabama.”
Aderholt emphasized Huntsville’s unique qualifications for housing the headquarters, citing the city’s unmatched expertise and infrastructure.
“As we mark the 4th anniversary of Redstone Arsenal being chosen as the home of Space Command, we are reminded of the rigorous, merit-based process that made Alabama the clear first choice,” said Aderholt. “Redstone Arsenal beat out several other locations due to its unmatched expertise, infrastructure, and leadership in space and defense. I am confident that President Trump will honor this decision and ensure Space Command is returned to Alabama, where it was always meant to be. Huntsville stands ready to lead in securing America’s future posture in the space domain.”
Palmer also criticized the Biden Administration’s handling of the basing decision, calling it politically motivated and detrimental to national security.
“Four years ago, the United States Air Force made the correct decision in selecting Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, as the most suitable home for the United States Space Command,” said Palmer. “Unfortunately, the Biden Administration disagreed with this decision and placed Space Command in Colorado based on politics instead of our national security. Both the Department of Defense Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office conducted reports confirming that, for the sake of our national security, Redstone Arsenal is where Space Command belongs. I look forward to working with President Trump in his second term to make our nation’s national security the top priority and put Space Command at the Redstone Arsenal where it belongs.”
The resolution represents a continued effort by Alabama’s Congressional Delegation to return the SPACECOM headquarters to Huntsville after President Biden’s Administration opted to finalize the command’s placement in Colorado. Britt and Tuberville are spearheading the effort in the Senate, with strong backing from their House colleagues.
The delegation has framed their fight as a matter of national security, economic development, and a correction of what they see as a partisan wrong by the Biden Administration. The resolution now awaits further action in both chambers of Congress.
