WASHINGTON — A report by the Inspector General of the Department of Defense confirms the decision to move U.S. Space Command to Colorado over Redstone Arsenal was “driven by politics, not merit,” according to U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt.
Aderholt (R-Haleyville) issued a statement today in response to the recent release of the report concerning the location of U.S. Space Command.
“The findings in the Inspector General’s report confirm what many of us in Alabama have long suspected — that the Biden Administration’s decision to move U.S. Space Command to Colorado Springs was driven by politics, not merit,” Aderholt said. “This revelation is deeply troubling and represents a clear deviation from the rigorous, objective process that initially ranked Huntsville as the top choice.”
In concurrence with the report’s release, Gov. Kay Ivey signed a State Senate joint resolution to continue encouraging the President Trump, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Air Force to “immediately proceed in establishing a permanent headquarters for United States Space Command at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.”
“Alabama Republicans and Democrats – along with the facts – agree the U.S. Space Command Headquarters belongs in Huntsville, Alabama,” she said.
U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, whose congressional district includes Huntsville, said “… it’s past time to go vertical at Redstone Arsenal.”
Congressman Dale Strong released the following statement in response to the Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General’s (IG) report on the Biden administration’s politically-driven decisions regarding United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) headquarters:
“The Inspector…
— Dale W. Strong (@RepDaleStrong) April 15, 2025
“The Inspector General’s report proves once again that President Trump was right in 2021 – U.S. Space Command Headquarters should be at Redstone Arsenal based on merit and what is best for national security,” said Strong (R-Huntsville). “The report exposes how the Biden administration bypassed the selection process and recommendations from Air Force and top defense leaders and selected Colorado in an attempt to further President Biden’s political agenda.
“The bottom line is this: The Air Force recommended U.S. Space Command Headquarters be built in Huntsville, Alabama. It is past time to go vertical at Redstone Arsenal. I trust that President Trump and his Secretary of the Air Force will ultimately do what is right for national security.”
The report said the Air Force conducted four reviews between June 2022 and June 2023 related to the January 2021 Space Command basing decision.
“The DAF (Department of the Air Force) examined the long-term cost savings of relocation the USSPACECOM Headquarters to a permanent location at Redstone Arsenal, as well as the risks to USSPACECOM’s readiness during the transition,” the report said. “Although the SECAF (secretary of the Air Force) never announced a final decision, DAF documents show that Redstone Arsenal remained the DAF’s preferred location for USSPACECOM’s permanent headquarters.
“Additionally, the DAF asserted that USSPACECOM could mitigate the risk to readiness from losing civilian personnel by hiring additional personnel at Redstone Arsenal and phasing the transition to a permanent headquarters.”
The report said one of the reasons the commander of Space Command insisted the headquarters remain in Colorado Springs was a chance of losing employees who would not move from Colorado to Huntsville.
“There is risk that most of the 1,000 civilians, contractors and reservists will not relocate to another location,” Gen. James Dickinson said in a memo to the secretary of the Air Force.
However, “USSPACECOM did not conduct any formal surveys to determine how many civilian personnel would relocate to a different HQ location,” the report said.
Aderholt said the report’s conclusion “could not be clearer.”
“Huntsville earned its ranking fair and square, based on strategic value, existing infrastructure, and quality of life in North Alabama,” he said. “To disregard those facts for political reasons not only undermines public trust but also compromises our military readiness. However, I remain confident that with new leadership at the Department of the Air Force, we will see this wrong decision corrected.
“I believe the new Secretary of the Air Force will take a fresh, apolitical look at the facts and restore integrity to this process.”
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