Huntsville, Alabama, nicknamed Rocket City, has long been home to the Army’s Redstone Arsenal and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, President Donald Trump’s administration declared that the permanent home for the U.S. Space Command will be in Alabama, overturning a decision made during Biden’s presidency to maintain its temporary base in Colorado, as reported by two individuals privy to the news.
A Pentagon website set up to livestream the remarks describes the event as a “U.S. Space Command HQ Announcement.”
“The president will be making an exciting announcement related to the Department of Defense,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Space Command is responsible for pivotal operations such as satellite-based navigation, troop communications, and missile launch warnings.
Alabama and Colorado have vied for the location of Space Command due to its substantial impact on the local economies. The placement has also been a political contention, with politicians from both states championing their location as the most suitable.
Huntsville, Alabama, affectionately known as Rocket City, is already home to the Army’s Redstone Arsenal and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. This city also hosts the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command, earning its nickname from its involvement in developing the initial rockets for America’s space endeavors.
The announcement caps a four-year back-and-forth on the location of Space Command.
In 2021, the Air Force recommended Army Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville as the ideal spot for the new headquarters of the U.S. Space Command. This choice came after evaluations in six states, assessing factors such as infrastructure, community backing, and expense to the Department of Defense.
However, in 2023, then-President Joe Biden announced that Space Command would remain permanently at Colorado Springs, Colorado, which had been its provisional headquarters. Biden’s administration, led by Democrats, argued that staying put in Colorado Springs would prevent readiness disruptions.
A review by the Defense Department inspector general was inconclusive and could not determine why Colorado was chosen over Alabama. Trump, a Republican who enjoys deep support in Alabama, had long been expected to move Space Command back to Alabama.
Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
