U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Oxford), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has responded to former President Donald Trump’s decision to designate Huntsville, Alabama as the permanent headquarters for U.S. Space Command. Rogers argued that delays in relocating the command from Colorado risk national security, emphasizing Huntsville’s lower costs, higher security, and better quality of life for service members.
“Space will be ‘the tip of the spear’ in America’s next conflict with China or Russia, and delays in building a secure headquarters for U.S. Space Command are putting the nation at risk,” Rogers told Fox News Digital.
Rogers noted that the debate over whether to base Space Command in Colorado or Alabama has taken years and delayed military readiness while adversaries have expanded their space capabilities. He stated that Huntsville ranked first in two nationwide competitions evaluating potential sites for the command and offers a more secure facility for its 1,700 personnel.
“We fight and win wars based on the communications and the capabilities that we have in space,” Rogers said. “We don’t want to be at a disadvantage when it comes to adversaries like China.”
He praised Trump’s move to select Huntsville as aligning with objective reviews: “He went back to the fair objective results and took the politics out of it and our country’s national security is going to be better off because of it.”
Rep. Dale Strong (R-Ala.), who represents Huntsville, agreed with Rogers, saying, “It’s a perfect match.” Strong highlighted Redstone Arsenal’s secure footprint and local infrastructure, noting that 21 categories were evaluated during site selection.
Space Command was established in 1985, merged into U.S. Strategic Command in 2002, then revived as an independent command in 2019. It has operated temporarily from Colorado Springs while permanent sites were considered.
According to Rogers, both original evaluations ranked Huntsville first; he contended President Biden kept Space Command in Colorado “for purely political reasons,” despite Air Force objections. “The only political maneuver was made by President Biden who, arbitrarily over the objection of his Secretary of the Air Force, decided to leave it in Colorado Springs,” said Rogers. “It was pure politics. Alabama’s a red state, Colorado is a blue state.”
Strong also suggested politics influenced Biden’s decision: “When Joe Biden went and awarded it…in Colorado…I do think that politics played a part in it there,” he said.
Colorado leaders argue moving headquarters could disrupt operations. However, Rogers criticized current security arrangements: “Four of the five buildings they’re in right now are off base and they’re in commercial space,” he said. “This is classified work. It needs to be inside the fence in a SCIF.”
Strong added that temporary facilities lack force protection: “[The headquarters] is nine and a half miles from the military base with zero force protection… it ought to be behind the wire.”
Rep. Jeff Crank (R-Colo.) previously described Space Command HQ near Cheyenne Mountain as highly secure due to its location.
Lawmakers stressed that future conflicts will depend on space-based assets rather than traditional warfare methods: “Our next war will not be storming the beaches of Normandy,” Strong said. “It will start in space.”
Space Command oversees military operations involving satellites and will play a role coordinating missile defense projects such as Golden Dome.
Concerns remain about Chinese and Russian advancements threatening U.S. assets; however, Rogers believes American capabilities have improved since 2019 when Trump created Space Force: “We have very adequate defensive capabilities now,” he said.
Biden administration officials argue keeping headquarters in Colorado avoids disruption as full capability is reached; supporters cite proximity to NORAD and an existing aerospace workforce as advantages for Colorado Springs. Meanwhile, Huntsville hosts NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and several defense contractors.
A Government Accountability Office report found moving Space Command to Redstone Arsenal would save $462 million compared with other options.
A Pentagon inspector general report confirmed cost advantages but noted readiness risks if moved—citing up to four years needed for construction and possible staff departures during transition.
Strong emphasized local resources supporting Huntsville’s case: “We’re sitting here with the highest number of PhDs and engineers anywhere in the country,” he said regarding University of Alabama graduates staying locally due to quality-of-life factors.
Mike Rogers has represented Alabama’s 3rd district since 2003 after serving previously at state levels. He replaced Bob Riley upon entering Congress.His career includes service on Calhoun County Commission (1987-1990) and Alabama House (1994-2002). Born in Hammond, Indiana,he lives today in Weaver after graduating from Jacksonville State University (BA)and Birmingham School of Law (JD).
“The cost to construct is more economical in Alabama; the cost to maintain is more economical,” Strong concluded.
