President Biden has decided to cancel the planned relocation of the U.S. Space Command Headquarters from Colorado to Alabama. This decision has sparked fierce bipartisan backlash.

Even some of his staunchest allies, including Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama, have sharply criticized the decision, calling it "shameful" and accusing the administration of bowing to political pressures over merit.

"This Administration’s decision to keep Space Command in Colorado bows to the whims of politics over merit. Huntsville’s merits won this selection process fair and square," Representative Sewell emphasized.

 "In three separate reports, Huntsville reigned victorious, whereas Colorado did not come in second or even third." 

"This reversal is as shameful, as it is disappointing. I expected more from the Biden Administration. A decision of this magnitude should not be about red states versus blue states, but rather what is best for our national security. To be clear, the Alabama Congressional Delegation stands united in opposition to this decision," she added.

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Interestingly, Republican congresswoman Lauren Boebert has praised the Biden administration's decision to keep the U.S. Space Command in her state of Colorado.

She had opposed the Trump administration's plan to move the headquarters to Alabama and had lobbied for it to stay, warning that 1,600 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars were at risk.

Bipartisan backlash controversy

The decision has also fueled allegations of political influence, with Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama accusing Biden of inserting politics into the matter. 

The decision not to move Space Command to Alabama has raised questions about the administration's ongoing feud with Sen. Tuberville over Pentagon funding for abortions. Some wonder if this disagreement played a role in the outcome of the Space Command headquarters' location.

Tuberville pointed out that the top three choices for Space Command headquarters were all in red states, and he raised concerns that military bases might now be used as rewards for political supporters rather than prioritizing national security.

However, Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder clarified that Biden's decision was based on a re-evaluation of operational readiness and not influenced by partisan politics. 

According to Gen. Ryder, the main factor was ensuring that Space Command could continue operating at peak readiness levels in the crucial domain of space. He emphasized that Colorado Springs, Colorado, was the most suitable location to meet these operational requirements.

During the Trump administration when the selection process was underway, the military did not share Ryder's point of view. And skeptics call it a major reversal.

Despite the current explanations from military leaders, the Alabama congressional delegation, stood united in opposing the decision. 

Rep. Dale Strong, whose district includes Huntsville, criticized the Biden administration for overlooking what was best for the nation's security and vowed to hold it accountable.

President Biden's choice has implications beyond just the location of Space Command's headquarters. It has become a subject of intense debate, with both sides arguing over the priorities of national security and political considerations.

U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM) was originally set up in 1985 at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. Then it was deactivated in 2002 after merging into United States Strategic Command. During the Trump Administration Space Force was recommissioned.