Pence outlines U.S. Space Force plan for ‘next battlefield’
Proposal faces daunting hurdles, including the approval of Congress
WASHINGTON — Pointing to growing threats and competition from Russia and China, the White House on Thursday announced ambitious plans to create the U.S. Space Force as a sixth, separate military war fighting service by 2020.
The proposal taps into the American public’s long fascination with space, but with a military focus, and it faces daunting hurdles. It requires congressional approval, and has been met with skepticism from military leaders and experts who question the wisdom of launching an expensive, bureaucratic new service branch.
Vice President Mike Pence announced the new force during
a Pentagon speech, fleshing out an idea that President Donald Trump has flagged in recent months as he vowed to ensure American dominance in space. Pence described space as a domain that has become crowded and adversarial.
“Now the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield where America’s best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people, to our nation,” said Pence.
Trump marked Pence’s announcement with a tweet: “Space Force all the way!”
Pence portrayed the change as a response to foes’ potential aggression rather than any offensive U.S. military effort.
Citing Russia and China, he said that U.S. adversaries have for years “pursued weapons to jam, blind and disable our navigation and communication satellites
via electronic attacks from the ground.”
“As their actions make clear, our adversaries have transformed
space into a warfighting domain … and the United States will not shrink from this challenge,” he said.
In June, the president directed the Pentagon to create a “separate but equal” space force, a complicated and expensive move that could take years to gain Congress’ approval and become operational. On Thursday, Pence said the administration will work with Congress and outline a budget next year. The last time the U.S. created a new uniformed military service was when the Air Force was launched after World War II.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has endorsed steps to reorganize the military’s space warfighting forces and create a new command, but has previously opposed launching an expensive new service. A new branch of the military would require layers of bureaucracy, military and civilian leaders, uniforms, equipment and an expansive support structure.
Asked about the cost, Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan told reporters, “I would assume it’s billions.”