A House Democrat from Alabama defied party lines and slammed the Biden administration for rejecting a Trump-era proposal to relocate the U.S. Space Command headquarters to her state.
After the Pentagon declared this week that the military command will remain in Colorado, Representative Terri Sewell (D-AL), the only Democrat in Alabama’s legislative delegation who supported President Biden throughout the 2020 election, released a harsh statement.
“This Administration chose politics over merit when deciding to maintain Space Command in Colorado.” Sewell referred to the city that had previously been selected as the permanent headquarters of Space Command as saying, “Huntsville’s qualities won the selection procedure fair and square.”
“Huntsville prevailed in three different reports, whereas Colorado didn’t finish second or even third. This turnaround is both dishonorable and disheartening,” she continued. “The Biden Administration fell short of my expectations. Red vs blue states shouldn’t matter in a choice of this importance; rather, what’s most beneficial for our national security should.”
“To make it clear, the Alabama Congressional Delegation opposes this decision with a unified front,” said Sewell.
In his last days in office in January 2021, former President Trump stated that the Air Force wanted to transfer the Space Command headquarters to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. During his presidency, Trump re-established the United States Space Command.
Colorado politicians have long criticized the plan, frequently asserting that it was defective and motivated by politics. As a result, several government watchdog investigations have ruled that the Air Force selection procedure was valid but problematic.
According to a statement released by the Pentagon Press Secretary, Brig. General Patrick Ryder, Biden decided to change the plan after engaging in a “thorough as well as deliberate evaluation procedure,” speaking with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and receiving advice from top military officers.
National Security Advisor John Kirby informed CNN that Biden only acted based on “operational readiness,” rejecting the idea that politics were involved. “When it comes down to it, he thinks leaving Space Command in Colorado would be in the very best interests of the security of our country,” Kirby continued.
Alabama’s lawmakers were appalled by the decision, despite the support it received from Colorado authorities, including Republicans.
“The White House deciding not to set up Space Command Headquarters in Alabama – the rightful choice – is very clearly the wrong choice for national security,” declared Republican governor of Alabama Kay Ivey.
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) declared that “Alabama is united” in opposition to the “political decision” made by the Biden administration over Space Command. Tuberville is preventing military advancements in protest opposing a Pentagon abortion policy. Huntsville is part of Representative Dale Strong’s (R-AL) district, which declared that the “fight for Space Command is not over.”
