President Donald Trump seems to have won support for Space Force, his proposed sixth branch of the military, according to Space News.
Rep. Adam Smith on Saturday told reporters the House and Senate compromise fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act will be finalized Monday. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the legislation Wednesday.
"I've been glowing for the past day," Rogers said when asked if he was satisfied with the language.
“The hay’s not in the barn yet, but it’s real close to the barn door. “We’ve worked out the peripheral issues. Space Force was not one of those,” he added. “It’s been agreed upon for a couple of months as far as the structure.”
The deal is said to include paid family leave for 2.1 million civilian federal workers in a compromise version of the NDAA. It will also establish the Space Force as a separate military service but still inside the Air Force.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the development on Saturday.
Rogers said the movement was important to keep up with international players.
“We have allowed China and Russia to become our peers, not our near peers and that’s unacceptable,” he said. “We have been doing some things short of the Space Force. I feel good but I will feel a lot better in about three or four years.”
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.