President Donald Trump was talking to U.S. Rep. Dale Strong when he seemed to confirm U.S. Space Command’s headquarters was coming to Huntsville, his office told AL.com.
A spokesperson from Strong’s office did not deny the conversation at the White House picnic last week that was captured on video and posted on X by Patriot Takes was about the potential move.
In the post on X, the president tells Strong “Because I’m moving it to Alabama. We’re working on it.”
Strong represents north Alabama’s 5th Congressional District, where the headquarters would be located at Redstone Arsenal.
Former Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dave Williams – also a former state legislator – told AL.com over the weekend he thought the comments were about moving Space Command.
Williams pointed to a letter he wrote the president in March shortly before stepping down as party chairman in which he supported a reversal of the decision by former President Joe Biden to keep the headquarters in Colorado Springs, calling Biden’s decision “political.”
“If your administration determines that basing Space Command in Alabama better serves the interests of our armed forces and national defense, then I trust that decision and stand behind it,” Williams wrote. “What’s good for national security is ultimately what’s good for Colorado—and for America.”
Huntsville City Councilman Bill Kling said city leaders were told in a visit to Washington, D.C., by congressional leaders that a decision on the headquarters would be made by the end of last month. Strong and U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt said they expected an announcement soon after the Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee as Air Force secretary.
Strong said in May that a relocation of Space Command could mean 1,700 direct jobs and an additional 3,000 spinoff jobs in north Alabama.
A recent review by congressional auditors finds U.S. Space Command is struggling with hiring and headquarters construction almost 18 months after it declared itself operationally ready.
The report released in May by the Government Accountability Office finds Space Command’s headquarters operates out of four facilities in Colorado Springs, Colo. – only two of which are on secure military installations – and remains well short of its civilian staffing needs.
“Officials told us … the Command requires military construction of a permanent, purpose-built facility that is better suited to meet its unique power, information technology, square footage, and security needs,” auditors wrote.
Alabama vs. Colorado: Space Command HQ location debate unresolved in new GAO report – al.com
At a Huntsville City Council meeting last month, Mayor Tommy Battle said it would take about four years for U.S. Space Command to “ramp up” if the decision was made to move the headquarters here.
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