Staff Reports
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is not backing down in his feud with the White House over President Joe Biden’s decision to keep Space Command’s headquarters in Colorado instead of moving it to Alabama. Tuberville has been at odds with the Biden administration over senior military promotions due to his stance against the Pentagon’s abortion policy. This policy covers the travel costs and time off for service members who must travel out of state to receive an abortion due to restrictive laws.
Tuberville vows to fight Biden's Space Command decision: ‘This is absolutely not over’ https://t.co/9PkqsG82lw
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) August 1, 2023
The White House denies that Tuberville’s actions influenced their decision to choose Colorado over Alabama. The Air Force had recommended the Army’s Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, as the preferred location for SPACECOM’s permanent base. This recommendation was based on a thorough analysis of various locations, including infrastructure, costs, and mission capability. Redstone was ranked as the best location.
Gen. James Dickinson, the head of Space Command, advised against moving the headquarters to Alabama, emphasizing that it would jeopardize military readiness. The headquarters in Colorado will achieve full operational capability in the coming weeks, while relocating to Alabama would result in the base not opening until the early to mid-2030s. President Biden deemed this timeline to be an unacceptable risk.
Colorado officials and lawmakers, who are predominantly Democrats, were pleased with the decision to keep the base in their state. They argued that it would be quicker to reach full capacity at the existing location rather than moving to Huntsville. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper of Colorado supported President Biden’s decision. On the other hand, Tuberville and Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama accused the president of playing politics and harming national security.
Tuberville remains determined to fight for SPACECOM to be relocated to Huntsville, Alabama. However, he has not provided specific details on his next steps. His ongoing opposition to the Pentagon’s abortion policy has also garnered attention. While Tuberville cannot permanently block nominees, he can significantly delay their confirmations. This has raised concerns among Republicans and Democrats alike about the impact of leaving key positions unfilled.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader, has distanced himself from Tuberville’s actions, stating that he does not support putting a hold on military nominations. Biden and his administration have criticized Tuberville’s actions, arguing that they harm military readiness and national security. Tuberville, in response, criticized the administration’s decision on SPACECOM, claiming that it undermines national security at a time when space is increasingly important.
