Space Command to be based in Alabama, reversing Biden-era decision to keep it in Colorado Springs
The Trump administration is set to announce that U.S. Space Command will be headquartered in Alabama, moving from its temporary base in Colorado Springs. The plan, described to multiple people familiar with the talks, would mark the end of a four-year dispute over where the new command should be permanently housed.
The White House has not released a formal statement, but officials say the president will speak Tuesday afternoon to unveil the new location. A Pentagon livestream link for the event describes it as a Space Command headquarters announcement. The administration has characterized the address as a significant defense-related decision.
Space Command’s mission includes space-enabled operations such as satellite navigation, secure communications for troops, and missile launch warning. The relocation would place the command’s home in Huntsville, Alabama, a city known for its deep ties to the U.S. space and defense programs.
Huntsville—often referred to as Rocket City for its role in rocket development—hosts the Army’s Redstone Arsenal, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command. The area has long argued that its infrastructure, skilled workforce, and aerospace ecosystem make it well suited to support Space Command’s operations and growth.
The location fight has played out for years. In 2021, the Air Force identified Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal as the preferred site after site visits to six states, weighing factors such as infrastructure, community support, and cost. Then-President Joe Biden in 2023 announced that Space Command would be permanently located in Colorado Springs, saying the arrangement would minimize readiness disruptions by avoiding a major relocation. A Defense Department inspector general review of the decision was inconclusive and did not clearly determine why Colorado was chosen over Alabama. Trump, who has strong backing in Alabama, had long been anticipated to advocate for moving Space Command back to his home state.
If confirmed, the move would underscore Alabama’s bid to become a national hub for space defense, potentially boosting local jobs and investments tied to aerospace and national security. It would also signal a renewed emphasis on Huntsville’s role in shaping the future of U.S. space operations and defense technology.
Editor’s note: This development could usher in a broader reassessment of Space Command’s footprint and related defense assets in the coming years, with communities near candidate sites watching closely for economic and strategic implications.
Summary: The anticipated relocation to Alabama marks a significant shift in the long-running debate over Space Command’s permanent home, aligning with Huntsville’s longstanding aerospace leadership and potentially delivering economic and strategic benefits to the region. If the plan proceeds, observers will be watching how the transition affects readiness, staffing, and the broader defense ecosystem in the Southeast.