Space Command Has a Home in Alabama

For more than six decades, Alabama has been synonymous with American space leadership. When NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center opened at Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal in 1960, it cemented our state’s role as the birthplace of America’s space program. What began as an Army ordnance facility during World War II has evolved into the nation’s premier hub for space technology, defense innovation, and aerospace manufacturing, powering both America’s national security and Alabama’s economic future.

Today, Redstone Arsenal hosts more than 65 agencies and stands as the backbone of Alabama’s economy, supporting thousands of high-skilled jobs and billions in economic activity. President Trump’s decision to headquarter the reestablished U.S. Space Command in Huntsville recognizes this unmatched legacy and infrastructure. Yet partisan politics from Washington Democrats threaten to derail an expansion that would secure economic opportunity and preserve Alabama’s space heritage for generations to come.

Space Command, which is responsible for military operations beyond Earth’s atmosphere, was originally established in 1985, disestablished in 2002, and reactivated by President Trump in 2019 as space dominance became critical to protecting American interests. After a comprehensive Air Force review, President Trump announced in early 2021 that Huntsville was the superior choice for Spacecom’s permanent headquarters.

Then, politics thwarted progress. In July 2023, the Biden White House abruptly reversed course, selecting a Colorado location following a recommendation from General James Dickinson, despite his earlier support for Redstone. Notably, General Dickinson had purchased a $1.5 million, 20-acre ranch near the proposed Colorado site just months before his reversal. When personal interests cloud decisions of national security, accountability is essential, which is why I immediately called on the Department of War’s Inspector General to investigate.

Nevertheless, the Biden White House suddenly reversed course in July 2023, choosing instead a location in Colorado following a recommendation from General James Dickinson. A previous advocate of the Redstone site, General Dickinson purchased a $1.5 million, 20-acre ranch near the proposed Colorado site in April 2023, months before his about-face and the announced reversal. Personal graft has no place on matters of national security, which is why my office swiftly appealed to the Department of War’s Inspector General for an investigation.

Now this decision has devolved into courtroom warfare. After President Trump rightfully reinstated Alabama’s selection in September 2025, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser filed his 41st lawsuit against this administration. His injunction seeks to stall the relocation based on the absurd claim that the president’s comments about Colorado’s mail-in voting system, not military readiness, drove the decision. This is the kind of political game that good people roundly reject.

Huntsville’s selection was validated by the Department of Defense Inspector General, affirmed by the Government Accountability Office, endorsed by military readiness experts and supported by Air Force leadership across both administrations. Weiser’s partisan lawfare ignores these realities in favor of political grandstanding and does so at the expense of national security and qualified professionals in Alabama.

Huntsville isn’t just ready for Space Command—we’ve been preparing for this moment since the 1960s. Our workforce is unparalleled, our infrastructure unmatched, our commitment proven. The administration estimates this move will generate more than 30,000 jobs for Alabama and attract hundreds of billions in private investment. These aren’t just statistics—they’re careers for Alabama families, opportunities for our young people, and the continuation of our state’s proud legacy as America’s space capital.

But this fight transcends state pride or economic development. At its core, this is about placing our nation’s space defense operations where they belong: in the community with the deepest expertise, strongest infrastructure and most proven track record. Defense decisions must be guided by military readiness and strategic advantage, not by which state files the most lawsuits or whose politicians complain the loudest.

As Alabama’s Attorney General and as a candidate for the U.S. Senate, I’m committed to fighting for every job, every investment and every opportunity this brings to our state. More importantly, I’m fighting to preserve Alabama’s rightful place as the heart of American space power. 

If Colorado wants this battle, we’ll meet them in court and we’ll win because the facts, the law, and Alabama’s unmatched legacy are on our side.

Alabama has earned Space Command. Our workers deserve these jobs. Our communities have built the foundation for American space superiority. We will not surrender our heritage or our future to partisan politics.

Steve Marshall is the Attorney General of the State of Alabama and a candidate for U.S. Senate.