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Home » News

Pence, Pentagon promise ‘Space Force’ by 2020

GOPUSA StaffWashington Times Posted On 11:35 am August 10, 2018
7


The U.S. “Space Force” will become a reality by 2020, Vice President Mike Pence and Defense Secretary James Mattis promised Thursday, laying out an ambitious timeline to set up the first new branch of the armed forces in nearly 75 years and making the case that Americans must prepare for space threats from Russia, China, North Korea and other hostile actors.

Speaking Thursday morning at the Pentagon, Mr. Pence said the Trump administration sees space as the next frontier in war and is ready to take dramatic action to prepare for conflicts.

Still, the proposal faces an uncertain fate in Congress, particularly if Democrats capture either the House or Senate in November elections.

“Now the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield. … The time has come to establish the United States Space Force,” the vice president said. “What was once peaceful and uncontested is now crowded and adversarial. Today, other nations are seeking to disrupt our space-based systems and challenge American supremacy in space as never before. … The United States will not shrink from this challenge.”

Many retired military officials and some currently in the Defense Department privately express reservations about the Space Force as a wholly separate branch of the military.

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Over the past several weeks, there was widespread speculation that the Pentagon would pursue half-measures — such as establishing a unified space command — but avoid creating an entirely new service.

Mr. Pence’s comments Thursday, along with a detailed Pentagon report explaining how the Space Force will be handled, put an end to that speculation and demonstrate that military leaders — at least publicly — are now in step with the White House on space policy.

“Like the other military branches, the Space Force will organize, train, and equip forces to protect national security interests in the physical domain of space. The Space Force will accelerate and unify the Department’s space efforts and enable the delivery of next-generation space capabilities faster than potential adversaries can evolve,” the Pentagon says in its report. “The Space Force will grow the world’s most capable national security space workforce.”

Mr. Trump weighed in immediately after the vice president’s remarks.

“Space Force all the way!” the president tweeted.

Neither Mr. Pence nor Mr. Mattis offered any details on what it would cost to stand up the Space Force, but the administration reportedly will seek about $8 billion in funding. A formal proposal to establish the Space Force will be included in next year’s National Defense Authorization Act, and that bill will include all funding details.

Mr. Pence said the administration already is working with Congress on the issue.

“We’re building bipartisan support for our plan,” he said. “Next February in the president’s budget we will call on the Congress to marshal the resources we need to stand up the Space Force.”

Rep. Mike Rogers, Alabama Republican and one of Congress’ most outspoken Space Force proponents, said it’s past time for the U.S. to move forward.

“We in the House have been warning for years about the threats to our space assets and the unacceptably slow pace to develop more capable space systems,” he tweeted.

Critics raised concern that the force will simply lead to more bureaucracy inside the Pentagon.

“It is a waste of money,” said Stephen Ellis, executive vice president of the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense. “A completely separate branch of the military won’t necessarily help the U.S. lead in space. It will, however, create a lot of waste and duplication.”

Mr. Pence and Mr. Mattis said the force won’t be rolled out until 2020, but the Defense Department is taking preparatory steps immediately.

First, the Pentagon said it will stand up a unified “Space Command” that will oversee all space operations in each branch of the military, similar in structure to U.S. Central Command, U.S. Africa Command and other combatant commands responsible for specific areas.

Second, the Defense Department will set up a “Space Operations Force” comprising “space war fighters.”

“The Space Operations Force will provide the human capital needed to develop, field, and integrate space capabilities into multi-domain war fighting,” the Pentagon says in its report.

The Pentagon also will set up a space development agency that will serve as the central hub for acquisition of materials needed to stand up the force.

The Defense Department also will appoint an assistant secretary of defense for space who will report directly to Mr. Mattis.

© Copyright (c) 2018 News World Communications, Inc.

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This content is published through a licensing agreement with Acquire Media using its NewsEdge technology.

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7 Comments

porthos
porthos
12:38 pm August 10, 2018 at 12:38 pm
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Of course the space force will be stuck on the ground or a long time. Or is Pence insinuating we will soon have or already have the technology to build battlestar like fighter carriers.

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James Bowen
James Bowen
1:28 pm August 10, 2018 at 1:28 pm
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I don’t think this Space Force is a good idea. Most military utilization of space is in the orbital and sub-orbital domains. This can be adequately handled by USSTRATCOM. Any future voyages beyond Earth orbit is a logical mission for the Navy.

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ltuser
ltuser
3:43 pm August 10, 2018 at 3:43 pm
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I am with James. IMO this is a stupid idea, that will just waste more tax payer’s money.

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Terry Gillham
elderal
5:06 pm August 10, 2018 at 5:06 pm
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More government agencies only spend more government (tax) money in new and even more insane ways. Bush installed Homeland Security and it is a huge self-defeating, bureaucratically inefficient disaster. Nearly EVERY federal agency is a massive waste of time, money, and attention.

America should keep the Departments of State and Defense then defund, de-authorize, and abolish ALL other federal agencies and let the several States &/or We, the People, to make ALL of the decisions within America and limit the feds exclusively to external issues. Let the State department “make nice” with friendly nations and let the Defense department deal harshly with unfriendly nations.

“Space Force” is an incredibly stupid idea.

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    ltuser
    ltuser
    12:56 am August 11, 2018 at 12:56 am
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    I say get rid of all but ONE internal ‘intelligence’ federal agency, all but one EXTERNAL intelligence federal agency, and have ONLY ONE Federal law enforcement agency no need for BAFTA/ATF/Fed marshals/FBI AND DHS….
    THOUGH ICE should stay.

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jadesqr
jadesqr
7:09 am August 11, 2018 at 7:09 am
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Personally speaking without authority or beforehand absolute knowledge on the subject; would it really surprise anyone that there could be already, a sizeable ‘Space Force’ in orbit or on near earth planets? Do we really think the Air Force would spend $200 on a toilet seat or ‘monkey wrench?’ Think about it…

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ConservativeSarge
ConservativeSarge
8:23 am August 11, 2018 at 8:23 am
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What a legacy to leave the United States of America. Making America Great Again — and developing the first Space Force in the world. Keep on making progress President Trump. What I wouldn’t give to be young again and be able to join the developing Space Force! But – I put my 28 years into the Active Army and am happy with my contribution. I love our military. God bless our troops – every one of them.

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