The debate over the permanent location of U.S. Space Command is far from settled, as a newly released report from the Pentagon’s inspector general reveals lingering uncertainty, internal disagreements, and unanswered questions about where the headquarters should ultimately be based.
The 54-page report, which was heavily redacted, outlines a split between former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and Army Gen. James Dickinson, then head of Space Command, over whether the headquarters should remain at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs or relocate to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. One of the major concerns highlighted was the likelihood that up to 1,000 civilian employees might refuse to move from Colorado to Alabama. Additionally, building the necessary facilities at Redstone would take as long as four years raising concerns about operational readiness.
This long-running basing decision stretches back more than four years to when President Trump, near the end of his first term, selected Redstone Arsenal for the permanent headquarters. Trump had reestablished Space Command in 2019, placing it temporarily at Peterson. Days before leaving office, he claimed he had “single-handedly” chosen Alabama as the permanent home.
The choice was immediately criticized by Democrats, who argued Trump selected Alabama for political reasons, citing his strong support base in the state. However, a 2022 Government Accountability Office review found that while the process lacked full transparency, it was generally consistent with military recommendations.
Former President Biden reversed Trump’s decision in 2023, opting to keep the headquarters in Colorado after consultations with then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and senior military officials. The administration cited time and cost savings, and the importance of avoiding delays that might affect national security.
The inspector general report notes that the Air Force never officially finalized the move to Alabama. Even after an environmental review in late 2022 deemed Redstone Arsenal the “preferred location,” Kendall never made a formal announcement, which meant construction at Redstone never began. Meanwhile, Peterson continued to expand and reached full operational capability in December 2023.
The report shows differing priorities: Air Force officials focused on the cost savings associated with moving to Alabama estimated at $426 million due to lower personnel and construction costs. Space Command leaders, however, prioritized maintaining readiness, expressing concerns about potential workforce losses and Redstone’s weaker infrastructure and IT capabilities.
In April 2023, Gen. Dickinson formally recommended to both Kendall and Austin that the headquarters remain in Colorado Springs, emphasizing the potential loss of personnel and operational disruption.
The report did not assess the decision-making processes of Kendall or Austin, as both declined to be interviewed. But the absence of clarity has reignited political tensions. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, condemned what he called a lack of transparency and accused the Biden administration of making a political decision that disregarded military leadership and economic logic.
The stakes remain high, as the location of Space Command headquarters brings an estimated $1 billion in annual economic impact and about 1,400 jobs. Lawmakers in both Colorado and Alabama are still actively involved, and earlier this year, Ohio entered the fray by pitching Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton as a possible headquarters location.
This prolonged back-and-forth, with no definitive conclusion in sight, continues to frustrate local leaders, military officials, and the communities affected. The lack of resolution also risks undermining confidence in the government’s ability to make strategic decisions insulated from political influence.