Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers says the country is past due for a conversation on the role that space plays in our national security. That’s why he’s leading an effort in Congress that would force the Department of Defense to more proactively prepare for threats that could emerge from space-led warfare. While it’s not a current reality, addressing a glaring shortcoming early is a necessary measure that he believes could protect future generations from preventable tragedy.
Rogers, who serves as the chair of the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee, held a hearing on Tuesday to lay the foundation for “major reform” that will lead up to the FY18 National Defense Authorization Act.
During the meeting, he warned that national leaders must “resist the temptation of bureaucrats to wait for a disaster to fix this known failure.”
“For those that shy away from reform, I ask if it is better to wait for a crisis to motivate those to change, or to instead build a better system in a thoughtful and deliberate manner in order to avert such a crisis in the future?” Rep. Rogers asked.
Tuesday’s hearing featured testimony from John Hamre, a former deputy secretary of defense, former director of the National Reconnaissance Office Martin Faga, and retired Navy admiral Jim Ellis. All officials acknowledged that America must make make space a national defense priority.
“We’re failing to see what’s obvious to us now, that our opponents know quite well what they can do to change our entire posture, and we’re not responding in a very effective way,” said Dr. Hamre.
One reform that Rep. Rogers and his committee seems to be eyeing is the need to create a transparent and streamlined space defense structure. Currently, action on space-related security issues face a massive bureaucratic web of 60 stakeholders.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.