Congressman vies for Space Force headquarters
WASHINGTON (Nexstar) — A lawmaker from Alabama said he supports President Trump’s push to create a new branch of the armed forces in space.
Rep. Mo Brooks, a Republican from Alabama, has begun his own campaign to build the Space Force in his home state, which is already home to much of the space industry.
Trump wants the Space Force to be the sixth branch of the military, and Brooks sees an opportunity for high-paying jobs and prestige in his Alabama district.
“Quite frankly, it seems like it fits hand in glove with what we do on Redstone Arsenal and at the Marshall Space Flight Center,” said Brooks.
During a recent hearing, Brooks pitched the area as the future location of the Space Command headquarters.
The idea of establishing a Space Force has bipartisan support, but it also faces opposition.
After Trump’s announcement, Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Florida, tweeted about the idea.
The U.S. Air Force currently oversees space security. Defense Secretary James Mattis said that any change will be a deliberate process.
But Brooks has said establishing a Space Force is essential to national security, and he hopes to secure funding within the next year.
Brooks expects up to five locations to be named finalists for Space Command headquarters, and he said he is confident his district will be be among them.