Washington, D.C. — This week, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper introduced an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would strike language added by U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) blocking funding for any U.S. Space Command military construction projects and freezing half of Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall’s travel budget until a final basing decision on the permanent headquarters location of Space Command is made – an attempt to force a decision in Alabama’s favor.
“Senator Tuberville’s attempts to restrict Pentagon funding are harming our military readiness and national security – and this legislative hostage-taking must stop,” said Bennet. “I urge the Biden Administration to swiftly make a final basing decision for the U.S. Space Command headquarters based on our national security, not politics.”
“Making it harder for Space Command to do its job while we’re facing unprecedented threats is exactly what our adversaries want,” said Hickenlooper. “We shouldn’t risk our national security for the sake of narrow political interests.”
The Senate released details of its version of the NDAA last week, which included Tuberville’s language to halt funding for Space Command construction and freeze a portion of Kendall’s travel budget. Tuberville added the provision in a closed markup of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The initial procedural vote for a full Senate vote on the NDAA occurred this week.
U.S. Space Command has been provisionally based in Colorado Springs since 2019 and is awaiting a final basing decision. For years, Bennet has repeatedly expressed his concerns about the flawed, political decision made in the waning days of the Trump Administration to move Space Command from Colorado to Alabama. He has voiced his concerns on the Senate floor and in meetings with President Joe Biden, Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Kendall, and other administration officials.