Battle brews over creating Space National Guard
Lawmakers say the Space Force needs it. But the White House says no way.
10/21/2021 9:38 AM EDT
The Space Force is here to stay. But the debate over whether the military’s newest branch should have its own weekend warriors has turned into the latest space-based political brawl.
Lawmakers from Colorado, Florida, Hawaii and other states that are home to space operations are pushing for a dedicated Space National Guard that can provide a talent pool for the technical space branch — while also benefiting from some of the additional spending that would go with it. The House recently passed bipartisan defense policy legislation mandating that a Space Guard be established within 18 months.
But the White House “strongly opposes” the move, arguing it “would not deliver new capabilities” and only “create new government bureaucracy.”
The Pentagon is also not eager to create a new organization. Some active-duty leaders are reluctant to have to contend with another powerful lobby in Washington pushing parochial interests and projects, according to current and former military officials and experts.
