Gardner urges Department of Defense to establish U.S. Space Command in Colorado

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) renewed his call for U.S. Space Command to be headquartered in Colorado following President Donald Trump’s official announcement of the new combatant command aimed at defending the United States.

Sen. Gardner was joined by the entire Colorado congressional delegation, including U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), as well as Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, in sending an Aug. 29 letter to U.S. Department of Defense leaders promoting Colorado’s strengths in the national security area and aerospace industry.

“As the epicenter of national security space, Colorado is the prime location to house national efforts to ensure continued U.S. technological superiority, global leadership, and capabilities in space,” Sen. Gardner and his colleagues wrote in the letter to acting Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Donovan and Commander of U.S. Space Command Gen. John W. Raymond.

“Throughout the basing process, the Colorado community has demonstrated continued support for U.S. Space Command, further augmenting the workforce talent, innovation in industry, institutions of higher education, national labs, and unparalleled quality of life Colorado already provides,” the leaders wrote.

In December 2018, President Trump signed an executive order to create U.S. Space Command separate from U.S. Strategic Command. The president said on Aug. 29 that the nation’s adversaries are targeting American satellites in orbit, and that the ability to operate in space is critical to destroying any missile launched against the United States.

According to Sen. Gardner’s office, the U.S. Air Force has named six finalist bases, four of which are located in Colorado: Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station in Colorado Springs, Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, and Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado Springs.

Sen. Gardner, the Colorado delegation, and the governor also sent a letter in March urging the Department of Defense to reestablish U.S. Space Command in Colorado.