Peterson Space Force Base to be permanent base for the U.S. Space Command headquarters
In case you missed it, this Monday, Colorado U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper applauded the U.S. Air Force decision to permanently base U.S. Space Command HQ at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. Senator Hickenlooper fought for two and a half years to keep it in Colorado.
Hickenlooper released a statement celebrating the Biden Administration’s decision to prioritize national security and military readiness over partisan politics. This decision reverses President Trump’s purely political decision to move Space Command away from Colorado Springs to Alabama during his final days in office, as a result of Colorado electing Biden and Hickenlooper to office.
Here is what they’ve been saying:
The Colorado Springs Gazette: Space Command: Its history and background
The Air Force on Monday decided that U.S. Space Command’s permanent headquarters will remain in Colorado Springs instead of moving to Huntsville, Ala…U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Colorado Democrat who has advocated for keeping the headquarters in the Pikes Peak region, applauded the news.
“For two and a half years we’ve known any objective analysis of this basing decision would reach the same conclusion we did, that Peterson Space Force Base is the best home for Space Command,” Hickenlooper said in a statement.
“After two investigations and rigorous review by the Department of Defense, the administration has made the decision that’s in our country’s best interest.”
He added that the decision “firmly rejects” the notion that political considerations should outweigh national security concerns.
CO Sun: Space Command headquarters will remain in Colorado Springs, White House decides
“The headquarters of U.S. Space Command will remain in Colorado Springs, the White House told Colorado’s congressional delegation Monday, reversing a Trump administration decision to relocate the multimillion-dollar economic driver to Alabama…“For two and a half years we’ve known any objective analysis of this basing decision would reach the same conclusion we did, that Peterson Space Force Base is the best home for Space Command,” U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper said in a written statement.
“This decision firmly rejects the idea that politics — instead of national security — should determine basing decisions central to our national security. We’re grateful to the service members and civilians who serve at Space Command, keeping us safe at the cutting edge of this new frontier.”
KJCT: Sen. Hickenlooper praises Biden admin for keeping Space Command in Colorado
Monday was a big win for Colorado after President Joe Biden decided to keep space command headquarters in Colorado Springs.
Today senator John Hickenlooper spoke about the reasoning behind keeping it in Colorado. The decision overturns a last-ditch decision by the trump administration to move it to Alabama and the decision ends months of politically fueled debate. Biden’s decisions angered Alabama lawmakers as the new location was set to be located in Huntsville. Alabama republican senator Tommy Tuberville says the proposed relocation of the headquarters were in predominantly red states and was overlooked. Sen. Hickenlooper says that’s not the case.
“America is recognized internationally as a place where the military and the political leaders are separate, and politics don’t interfere with how the military needs to run.” Sen. Hickenlooper said. “To say that this is red state versus blue state is nonsense.”
Sen. Hickenlooper also said by keeping space command in Colorado, Coloradans get to see firsthand how local and state leaders work together showcasing the unity that builds America.
“All of our representatives, Republican and Democrats, Michael Bennett and myself both US senators, we’re focused on working together, and that unity of purpose is what makes America great.” Sen. Hickenlooper said.
Sen. Hickenlooper said the decision to keep Space Command in Colorado solidifies the base’s purpose. By keeping it in Colorado he said operations would not be disrupted which could have led to foreign threats moving on American territory.
“That would have been a tremendous risk for our country with, Russia and Ukraine, with China expanding its global ambitions. We need Space Command at full operational capability, ASAP.” Sen. Hickenlooper said.
The Senator also said by allowing Space Command to stay in Colorado, people across the state are benefiting from the business opportunities the base provides.
Denver Gazette: EDITORIAL: Bipartisan effort saves Space Command
Democratic Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn, the rest of Colorado’s congressional delegation, Colorado Springs Mayors John Suthers and Yemi Mobolade and others set aside partisan concerns and caused this outcome. Something’s right in America today. We are all safer and can rest assured President Joe Biden and the Pentagon prioritize National Defense.
Biden and the United States Air Force chose to leave Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, rejecting a basing decision made on politics rather than pragmatic tactical concerns. Colorado won this important battle with business, community, military and political leaders working together for an apolitical, bipartisan result in the entire country’s interest…We applauded Trump slashing regulations and taxes, but the Space Command call stands as the prime example of his personality undermining sound judgment. Trump’s desire for revenge took priority over doing what was clearly, obviously — as argued by multiple Air Force Generals — the right thing for national defense. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, called Trump’s decision “corrupt.” Like Bennet, Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado, has been steadfast in working to keep Space Command in Colorado. So has Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn and all other members of Colorado’s Congressional delegation.
Washington Post: Biden, reversing Trump, won’t move military’s Space Command to Alabama
President Biden has decided against relocating the headquarters of U.S. Space Command to Alabama, senior officials said Monday, upending a controversial decision by his predecessor as the Trump administration was coming to an end…
Hickenlooper added that Biden’s decision “firmly rejects the idea that politics — instead of national security — should determine basing decisions central to our national security.”
Politico Playbook: Alabama Slammer
President Biden’s decision yesterday to cancel a planned move of Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama sparked more than a little intrigue and infighting — coming as it did amid an increasingly nasty tiff between Biden and Sen. TOMMY TUBERVILLE (R-Ala.) over his abortion-related blockade of military promotions.
In an interview on Monday evening, [Sen. JOHN] HICKENLOOPER [D-Colo.] said that Tuberville’s holds on military promotions, while ‘very frustrating,’ did not affect the decision-making process at all. … ‘In my opinion, I believe that’s how the Defense Department looked at it. And I think that’s how the White House looked at it.’”
PoliticoPRO Defense: Biden reverses Trump, keeps Space Command in Colorado
Colorado Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, meanwhile, hailed the decision. They argued that Biden’s move removed politics from the military’s process of deciding where bases should go, and Bennet called Colorado the command’s “rightful home.”In an interview on Monday evening, Hickenlooper said that Tuberville’s holds on military promotions, while “very frustrating,” did not affect the decision-making process at all. There’s been intense speculation in the Senate that the Alabama senator’s battle against the Pentagon’s abortion policy could drag down Alabama’s bid.
“On a bad day it bugs the living daylights out of me. But it’s completely separate from Space Command,” Hickenlooper said. “In my opinion, I believe that’s how the Defense Department looked at it. And I think that’s how the White House looked at it.”
Instead, he said, the importance of Space Command with regards to the war in Ukraine and getting the base up to full operation capacity was of top importance. Hickenlooper also mentioned that the administration would lose huge amounts of civilian workers if it moved the base to Alabama — which would further hamper getting the headquarters up to speed.
The first-term senator said the decision was not made in regard to “accessory issues; the real question was full operational capability, where is the best location for space command?”
“From when Trump made this decision, the world changed,” Hickenlooper said. “It was no longer a theoretical need that we be at full operational capability. We’re in a conflict right now, there’s a global conflict with Ukraine. And we’ve got to make sure that we are fully prepared at all times. Our entire military defense is based on our assets in space.”
AP: Biden decides to keep Space Command in Colorado, rejecting move to Alabama
President Joe Biden has decided to keep U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado, overturning a last-ditch decision by the Trump administration to move it to Alabama. The choice ended months of thorny deliberations, but an Alabama lawmaker vowed to fight on… In announcing the plans, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, said the decision was based on an “objective and deliberate process informed by data and analysis.” He said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin supported the president’s decision.
Biden, said the U.S. officials, believes that keeping the command in Colorado Springs would avoid a disruption in readiness that the move would cause, particularly as the U.S. races to compete with China in space. And they said Biden firmly believes that maintaining stability will help the military be better able to respond in space over the next decade. Those factors, they said, outweighed what the president believed would be any minor benefits of moving to Alabama.
The decision was hailed as a victory in Colorado lawmakers and condemned in Alabama.
“For two and a half years we’ve known any objective analysis of this basing decision would reach the same conclusion we did, that Peterson Space Force Base is the best home for Space Command,” Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., said in a statement. “Most importantly, this decision firmly rejects the idea that politics — instead of national security — should determine basing decisions central to our national security.”
POLITICO Huddle: SWEET HOME COLORADO: SPACE FORCE FALLOUT WATCH
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) agreed that the decision to keep Space Force headquarters in his state was not tied to Tuberville’s holds and “has nothing to do with the state of Alabama in any way.” The Colorado senator refused to spike the football and said he’d spoken on Monday to his Alabama colleague, GOP Sen. Katie Britt. “I’m an empathetic person by nature,” Hickenlooper told Burgess in an interview. “And so I am empathetic to the people in Alabama that worked so hard to try and attract Space Command and be a good home for it.”
See additional coverage below:
Colorado Coverage:
CBS Colorado Springs: Space Command, Live Interview (08/01/23)
CBS Colorado Springs: Space Command, Live Interview (8/02/23)
ABC Denver 7: Space Command Stays, Live Interview
CBS Denver (KCNC): Space Command Stays, Live Interview
ABC Grand Junction: Space Command Live Interview, Space Force to be Fully Operational in 1 Month
Fox Colorado Springs: Space Command Celebration
Colorado Public Radio: Colorado Springs will remain the home for US Space Command headquarters
Colorado Politics: Space Command HQ to remain in Colorado Springs
The Gazette: Reaction to Space Command decision: ‘Colorado Springs is the natural choice’
Colorado Newsline: White House: U.S. Space Command to remain in Colorado, spurning Alabama
ColoradoPols: BREAKING: Suck It Tuberville, Colorado Keeps Space Command
Fox 21 Denver: Reactions to Space Command basing decision
Pueblo Chieftain: Space Command HQ to stay in southern Colorado following Biden decision
KOAA: Colorado and Alabama leaders react to U.S. Space Command relocation decision
SpaceRef: SPACECOM Headquarters Will Stay in Colorado, but Political Controversy Remains
National Coverage:
PoliticoPro Newsletter: No breakthrough yet in Ukraine’s counteroffensive
Washington Examiner: Biden’s Space Command decision escalates Tuberville feud over military holds
Military.com: Biden Made the Final Call on Space Command Basing. Was the Air Force Out of the Loop?
NBC: Biden opts to keep Space Command in Colorado, reversing Trump’s decision to move it to Alabama
Breaking Defense: Space Command HQ staying in Colorado, as Biden reverses Trump decision
C4ISRNET: Alabama lawmaker blames ‘far-left’ politics for SPACECOM HQ decision
Washington Times: Biden picks Colorado over Alabama in fierce fight for Space Command HQ
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