U.S. Air Force Has Now Accepted The Establishment Of A 'Space Force'

Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Goldfein speaks to airmen at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Credit: Air Force

Space News: Air Force changes message on Space Force amid criticism it stifled debate

Air Force Brig. Gen. Ed Thomas: There was uncertainty in the past about who should be engaging the press about space issues. "That time has long since passed and we have moved out.”

WASHINGTON — The decision to establish an independent Space Force under the U.S. Air Force is now in the hands of Congress. Committees soon will begin negotiating the final version of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act and the Trump administration is working behind the scenes to ensure the NDAA gives the Pentagon legal authority to stand up the new service.

Hanging over the discussions are questions on whether the Air Force denied space advocates a voice in the debate on the future of the new branch. These accusations have put the service in the uncomfortable position of having to simultaneously argue for the establishment of a Space Force and fight back criticism that senior leaders quashed public discussion on the subject.

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WNU Editor: The US Air Force's opposition from the top brass to the creation of an independent "Space Force" was well known, and it only changed when the White House intervened .... The White House Wants Their 'Space Force' (October 21, 2019). On a side note, both Russia and China are developing their own "Space Force" .... A Look At China's And Russia's Military Space Program (March 3, 2019). More on China's Space Force here .... China Has A ‘Space Force.’ (October 1, 2018).