Trump wants new ‘Space Force’
Pentagon ordered to begin creation of ‘Space Force’
The president wants the Pentagon to create the new military branch to ensure U.S. supremacy in space
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Monday he is directing the Pentagon to create a new “Space Force” as an independent military service branch aimed at ensuring American supremacy in space — though he may have limited power to develop a new military command.
While Trump has previously talked about his desire for a space unit, he seemed to take those musings one step further, specifically ordering the Pentagon to begin the creation of a sixth branch of the American armed forces.
“When it comes to defending America, it is not enough to merely have an American presence in space. We must have American dominance in space,” Trump said during remarks at the White House. “We are going to have the Air Force and we are going to have the Space Force, separate but equal.”
Turning to seek out Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Trump said, “General Dunford, if you would carry that assignment out, I would be very greatly honored.”
Dunford appeared to acknowledge the order, responding, “We got it.” But the directive seemed to take defense officials by surprise. Creating a new joint military command is largely the purview of Congress, which would have to provide the authority and any funding or shifting of money to a new unit.
Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said the department understands the president’s guidance and is working on the matter while taking into consideration the implications for intelligence operations for the other services.
A senior congressional aide said Trump’s order is consistent with efforts by members of Congress over the past two years to find a way to dedicate additional resources to the country’s war fighting in space. But the issue has been contested, and even Defense Secretary Jim Mattis expressed some early reluctance to creating a new military service citing the expense and broader effort to integrate war fighting.
The Defense Department is already in the middle of a congressionally mandated review of the space force issue. The study began in March, with an interim review due in August and a final report due Dec. 31. It’s not clear if the president’s comments were meant to override or influence that study.
Decades ago, the military deemed space a critical warfighting domain, creating the Colorado-based Air Force Space Command in 1982. It includes more than 36,000 personnel around the world that provide space and cyber capabilities for the Defense Department.
In addition, a number of federal defense agencies control portions of the space program, including NASA and the National Reconnaissance Office, which develops and operates surveillance spacecraft and satellites for intelligence gathering.
In a March document outlining the review, the Pentagon said it already made organizational changes to beef up the stature of the space force but was reviewing others. The document sent to Congress said the review will look at research, capabilities, acquisition and joint war fighting needs, and will assess “whether the Space Corps concept should be implemented.”
Trump more broadly envisioned a bright future for the U.S. space program, pledging to revive the country’s flagging efforts, return to the moon and eventually send a human mission that would reach Mars.
“My administration is reclaiming America’s heritage as the world’s greatest spacefaring nation,” Trump said in the East Room, joined by members of his space council. “The essence of the American character is to explore new horizons and to tame new frontiers.”
The president also used the White House event to establish a new policy for reducing satellite clutter in space. The policy calls for providing a safe and secure environment in orbit, as satellite traffic increases. It also sets up new guidelines for satellite design and operation, to avoid collisions and spacecraft breakups.
The council’s executive secretary, Scott Pace, said space is becoming increasingly congested and current guidelines are inadequate to address the challenge.
Trump also encouraged SpaceX, Blue Origin and other nontraditional aerospace companies led by wealthy U.S. entrepreneurs to beat NASA to Mars. “Just go ahead, if you beat us to Mars, we’ll be very happy, and you’ll be even more famous,” he said. “As long as it’s an American rich person, that’s good, OK? They can beat us. We’ll save a little money, and they can beat us, and we’re taking full credit for it, don’t worry about it.”