Democratic and Republican members of the Alabama congressional delegation are showing their displeasure with President Joe Biden after he overturned the decision to locate the Space Command Headquarters in Huntsville.
According to reports, Biden decided to keep the HQ in Colorado because it would avoid issues with military readiness.
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) said the leader of her party is putting partisan politics of national security.
“This Administration’s decision to keep Space Command in Colorado bows to the whims of politics over merit. Huntsville’s merits won this selection process fair and square,” Sewell said. “In three separate reports, Huntsville reigned victorious, whereas Colorado did not come in second or even third.
“This reversal is as shameful as it is disappointing. I expected more from the Biden Administration. A decision of this magnitude should not be about red states versus blue states, but rather what is best for our national security. To be clear, the Alabama Congressional Delegation stands united in opposition to this decision.”
The Administration’s decision to keep Space Command in Colorado bows to the whims of politics over merit.
Huntsville won this selection process fair and square.
Read my full statement below ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wVFmQw2mC3
— Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) July 31, 2023
Sewell wasn’t the only Democrat to condemn Biden’s reversal as former Sen. Doug Jones said he was “disappointed” in the president.
“I am very disappointed in the President’s decision for Space Command to remain in Colorado and not move to Alabama as was originally announced,” Jones said. “I think it’s fair to say that everyone knew where I stood on the issue and over the last couple of years have expressed that to the President and folks at the Pentagon.”
While Jones disagreed with the decision, he also defended the president somewhat and said he believes it wasn’t done for purely partisan reasons.
“But while I personally disagree with the decision,” he said, “the one thing I am absolutely confident of is that Joe Biden made the decision without regard to politics and instead based his decision on his judgment of what is in the best interest of the national security of the United States. Period.”
I am very disappointed in the President’s decision for Space Command to remain in Colorado and not move to Alabama as was originally announced. I think it’s fair to say that everyone knew where I stood on the issue and over the last couple of years have expressed that to the…
— Doug Jones (@DougJones) August 1, 2023
U.S. Rep. Dale Strong also criticized the president about an issue that directly affects his district, while also emphasizing that it isn’t settled.
“It is clear to anyone who has looked at the facts: Huntsville, Alabama is the best place for U.S. Space Command Headquarters,” Strong (R-Huntsville) said. “Repeated investigations and objective reviews have proven that to be the case.
“It is shameful that the Biden Administration is ignoring what is best for our nation’s security and is instead using their woke agenda to make this decision.”
The fight for Space Command isn’t over. pic.twitter.com/pmo7eBQris
— Dale W. Strong (@RepDaleStrong) July 31, 2023
Rep. Mike Rogers, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, also said the fight for the Space Command HQ isn’t over, and has plans to launch an investigation into the matter.
“Huntsville, Alabama was chosen to be the headquarters of U.S. Space Command because it was the strongest location and investigations by the DoD IG and GAO have upheld this decision,” Rogers (R-Saks) said. “Yet, the Biden administration decided to make Colorado Springs, Colorado, which came in fifth in the Selection Phase, the location of the headquarters for U.S. Space Command. It’s clear that far-left politics, not national security, was the driving force behind this decision.
“The Biden administration’s shameful delay to finalize the permanent basing decision for U.S. Space Command warranted the opening of a Congressional investigation. I will continue this investigation to see if they intentionally misled the Armed Services Committee on their deliberate taxpayer-funded manipulation of the selection process. I will continue to hold the Biden administration accountable for their egregious political meddling in our national security.
“This fight is far from over.”
This fight is far from over. https://t.co/p8PXHTqOh7
— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) July 31, 2023
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, called the move “irresponsible” and believes Biden has damaged national defense.
“President Biden has irresponsibly decided to yank a military decision out of the Air Force’s hands in the name of partisan politics,” Britt (R-Montgomery) said. “Huntsville finished first in both the Air Force’s Evaluation Phase and Selection Phase, leaving no doubt that the Air Force’s decision to choose Redstone as the preferred basing location was correct purely on the merits. That decision should have remained in the Air Force’s purview. Instead, President Biden is now trying to hand the Gold Medal to the fifth-place finisher.
“The President’s blatant prioritization of partisan political considerations at the expense of our national security, military modernization, and force readiness is a disservice and a dishonor to his oath of office as our nation’s Commander-in-Chief. Locating the permanent Space Command Headquarters on Redstone Arsenal undoubtedly remains in the best national security interest of the United States. President Biden should allow the Air Force to proceed with doing its job. Alabama’s world-class aerospace and defense workforce, capabilities, and synergies stand ready to fulfill the mission and strengthen our national security long into the future.”
The Air Force determined that Space Command HQ belongs on Redstone Arsenal. Now, President Biden has hijacked their objective decision to play politics with our national security. My full statement:https://t.co/TnzRq0Tpx1
— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) July 31, 2023
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
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