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Alabama Lawmakers Vow Fight Over Space Command HQ Not Over

By Brian Freeman | Sunday, 06 August 2023 10:56 PM EDT

Following President Joe Biden's decision last week not to relocate U.S. Space Command headquarters to Huntsville, Alabama, the state's congressional delegation is warning that the fight is far from over, The Hill reported on Sunday.

House Armed Services Committee chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., has vowed to intensify a probe into the motives behind the decision to keep the command in its temporary headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado, after publicly saying Biden's choice was political.

Biden's decision not to move the headquarters to Huntsville means the loss of some 1,400 jobs to the area that would have generated an estimated annual economic impact of $1 billion.

Former President Donald Trump, in the waning days of his administration, decided to make the permanent headquarters of the command in Huntsville, but Biden said that decision would be reviewed once he entered the White House.

In making its decision, the Biden administration explained that relocating the headquarters could take a decade, which would impact military readiness, while the headquarters at Colorado Springs can become operational in a month.

But Alabama congressmen said abortion politics was a major reason for the decision, especially after a May report on NBC News said Biden would not relocate the headquarters due to a near-total abortion law in the state.

In addition, the administration has been upset by a months-long blockade on the promotion of more than 200 officers at the Pentagon by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who is protesting a new Defense Department policy that provides paid leave and reimburses travel costs for service members who cross state lines for an abortion.

"It is clear the Biden administration cares more about advancing their far-left agenda than the security of our nation," Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Ala., said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "We will not give up this fight because Space Command belongs in Huntsville."

However, as The Hill pointed out, it is uncertain what action lawmakers can take even if they uncover evidence of any improper decision making.

Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., said, "I'm frustrated because I expected more from the Biden administration. I had hoped for Alabama's sake that politics would not win out. But I certainly understand the feeling that you don't want to reward the reckless antics of elected officials."

Although Rogers opened his investigation in May, it has so far yielded few results. But he is now attempting to force the administration to hand over the information he is requesting, saying he has asked for documents connected to the relocation five times, and each request has gone unanswered.

"This is unacceptable," Rogers wrote. "Your refusal to abide by the committee's repeated requests for responsive documents and transcribed interviews can only be considered obfuscation and purposeful delay, highlighted by the fact that the basing decision was decided while the committee's requests are outstanding."

Rogers is demanding the documents by Aug. 9 and threatening a subpoena if they do not comply.