ALABAMA (WHNT) – Alabama leaders are reacting following news that the Colorado Attorney General filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the decision to move the Space Command to Huntsville.
Colorado AG Phil Weiser’s lawsuit claimed that the decision made by President Donald Trump in September was a “punishment” for Colorado’s vote by mail system. The lawsuit also claims the move to Huntsville is unconstitutional and violates federal law requiring public notices and reports to Congress before moving a major military headquarters location.
In response to the lawsuit, Alabama AG Steve Marshall issued a statement:
The Inspector General for the Department of Defense has confirmed that President Trump’s 2021 decision to select Huntsville was factually sound and well justified. It was the Biden administration that injected politics into the process when it reversed course, punished Alabama, and rewarded Colorado. Now that President Trump has made things right again, Colorado seeks to use the federal courts to reimpose Biden-era politics on Americans who have overwhelmingly rejected them.
This lawsuit is nothing more than a partisan attempt to overturn a lawful, evidence-based decision repeatedly validated by military experts, independent reviews, and congressional oversight. Alabama will vigorously defend this decision in court and is confident the law and facts are squarely on our side.
If Colorado insists on fighting a political battle in federal court, Alabama will meet them there, and win. Our focus remains on supporting our service members, strengthening national defense, and ensuring Space Command’s continued success in Huntsville.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall
Since the lawsuit was announced on October 29, several Alabama leaders have responded. You can find their responses below:
“Colorado was only meant to be a temporary headquarters and didn’t even finish second or third in the evaluation process. Huntsville won on merit, something this lawsuit in my opinion, is completely lacking.”
Representative Robert Aderholt
“Desperate times in Colorado, desperate measures. Bless their hearts. Space Command Headquarters is on its way to Alabama. As Attorney General Marshall stated, the law and facts are squarely on our side. We won on our merits and we will win in the courts.”
Governor Kay Ivey
“President Trump rightfully restored integrity to the site selection process and honored the U.S. Air Force’s preferred basing decision by permanently locating Space Command Headquarters in Huntsville. Any effort to overturn the Air Force’s detailed analysis—which ranked Huntsville as the top choice across 21 categories and was endorsed by both President Biden and President Trump’s Air Force secretaries—should be recognized for what it is: a purely partisan attempt to undermine a sound, data-driven decision.”
Senator Katie Britt
“This is a desperate effort to salvage a blatantly political decision by the Biden administration. Study after study has confirmed that Redstone Arsenal is the best home for SPACECOM. It’s more secure and saves taxpayers more than $420 million. I look forward to welcoming SPACECOM to its rightful home at Redstone Arsenal.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville
“The 21 categories that were evaluated determined what was best for national security in America. Not once, but twice it said that Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama was the preferred location. It’ll save this country about a half a billion dollars by building it in Alabama. Again, Colorado has stretched, trying to change this. I want to do what’s right for national security, we’re going to fight them until the end. Space Command is coming to Redstone Arsenal. The president has already said it. I’ve spoken to him more than once related to it, and I can promise you the Alabama delegation is galvanized. Space Command is coming to Huntsville, let’s move through this lawsuit, and let’s get vertical with these buildings. Our country has no time to waste.”
Congressman Dale Strong
President Donald Trump announced in September that SPACECOM would move from its provisional headquarters at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo. to Redstone Arsenal.
The Rocket City was named a finalist for USSPACECOM in November 2020 when Trump was in his first presidential term.
In January 2021, the Secretary of the Air Force, on behalf of the Office of Secretary of Defense, named Redstone Arsenal as the preferred permanent location for the headquarters, and the Department of Defense later found that the evaluation process had been done reasonably.
Former President Joe Biden made the decision in 2023 to keep SPACECOM in Colorado Springs. Officials said that then- Space Command Head General James Dickinson convinced the President that the move would impact military readiness negatively.
In September, a spokesperson for the White House told News 19 that the transition is expected to bring Alabama 30,000 new jobs.
For more information on the United States Space Command, click here.
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