Pentagon to ask for Space Force money, despite warnings that Congress won't authorize new military branch
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) will ask Congress for about 270 million next year to stand up a Space Force headquarters, a Space Development Agency, and U.S. Space Command, according to draft documents. Space News reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
15 Feb. 2019 -- The amount is modest compared to multi-billion-dollar estimates that have been floated in the past several months. The federal fiscal 2020 request would cover setting up the Space Development Agency, U.S. Space Command and the Space Force headquarters — if and when Congress authorizes the new branch.
With the Democrat takeover of the U.S. House of representatives, the Trump Administration's plan to establish a Space Force as an independent branch of the U.S. military widely is expected to fail. The Pentagon budget projects that the Space Force budget will increase over the next several years due to mission demands.
If a U.S. Space Force is authorized by Congress, the Defense Department would transfer additional resources from the U.S. Air Force to the Space Force in 2021. The transfer of programs and resources to the Space Force from the other services should be done in an orderly manner while simultaneously enabling the growth of new capabilities, Pentagon officials say.
Related: Prospects dim in Congress for creation of Space Force as a new U.S. military branch
Related: Air Force asks industry for space communications to track and control multiple satellites
John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
Ready to make a purchase? Search the Military & Aerospace Electronics Buyer's Guide for companies, new products, press releases, and videos
