GAO to review Space Command decision

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August 29, 2023

President Joe Biden’s decision to keep the Space Command headquarters in Colorado Springs will now be reviewed by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

According to the Washington Examiner, the GAO granted a request from U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) to investigate why Biden reversed the decision by the previous administration to put the new Space Command HQ at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.

Rogers, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, told Comptroller General Gene Dodaro the review was necessary because the administration wasn’t forthcoming in why the reversed the decision.

"The public deserves an independent review to understand how this basing process went awry & failed to follow transparent & repeatable steps which would have garnered trust in the final basing decision for USSPACECOM headquarters.” CHM @RepMikeRogersAL https://t.co/wLIp6SBqCM pic.twitter.com/L2D17eDS4Q

— Armed Services GOP (@HASCRepublicans) August 24, 2023

“National security decisions of this magnitude and significant economic interest require the process to be standardized, repeatable, transparent, and deliberate,” Rogers said in the letter. “Based on numerous administration officials talking to the press, the decision by President Biden appears to be anything but.”

A GAO spokesman told the Washington Examiner that “the investigation went through the review and has commenced. Investigators will now determine the scope of what they will investigate and the methodology they will use. Once both are determined, they will come up with an expected final release date.”

Many of Alabama’s political leaders reacted to the news that they believe will show the president made the decision based solely on partisan politics.

“This decision needs to be investigated and now it will,” said U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville). “The reversal of Space Command in Huntsville was made with politics and personal desires at the forefront. National security took a backseat.

This decision needs to be investigated and now it will. The reversal of Space Command in Huntsville was made with politics and personal desires at the forefront. National security took a backseat. https://t.co/J7LpWMlbkw

— Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) August 29, 2023

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) said this is just more evidence that the Space Command HQ will still come to Huntsville.

When all is said and done, Space Command Headquarters will be on Redstone Arsenal.https://t.co/vHGtNnlnAE

— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) August 29, 2023

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall believes now Biden will be held accountable to his partisan decision.

“Biden is not going to get away with this,” Marshall said. “We will continue to demand transparency into the politically-motivated decision to move the Space Command from Huntsville.”

Biden is not going to get away with this. We will continue to demand transparency into the politically-motivated decision to move the Space Command from Huntsville. https://t.co/gNTjV2U87T

— Attorney General Steve Marshall (@AGSteveMarshall) August 29, 2023

Yaffee is a contributing writer and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee

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