Late Thursday, veteran Washington Post columnist David Ignatius reported the Biden administration was poised to reverse a 2021 Trump-era decision to locate U.S. Space Command in Huntsville.
According to Ignatius, the reversal is based on the impact the move could have on national security.
"The White House appears ready to reverse a Trump administration plan to relocate the U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Ala., because it fears the transfer would disrupt operations at a time when space is increasingly important to the military," Ignatius wrote. "The Space Command siting decision has been a political football for the past four years. Trump made the decision on Jan. 11, 2021, five days after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He had said earlier that he wouldn't decide until he knew the 2020 election results, 'to see how it turns out.' Colorado voted against him, while Alabama gave him strong support and its representatives backed his false claim he had won."
Ignatius acknowledged Trump's decision had passed muster with the Department of Defense inspector general's office and the Government Accountability Office. However, he also suggested Trump's move was tied to his support for a 2020 election challenge at the time from then-U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) and U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn).
"Some observers saw Brooks's Huntsville advocacy as crucial. 'But for Mo Brooks, the Space Command would not have been at Redstone Arsenal. I want to emphasize though that it's a team effort,' said Rep. Brian Babin (R-Tex.). A Jan. 13, 2021, story in Axios noted that 'two of Trump's staunchest backers in Congress, Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Rep. Mo Brooks, used their strong personal relationships with the president' to advocate for Huntsville."
Jeff Poor is the executive editor of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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