With U.S. President Donald Trump formally approving a proposal to create a Space Force, now comes the hard part: getting Congress on board. Trump signed Space Policy Directive 4 at an Oval Office ceremony Feb. 19, which directs the Pentagon to develop a legislative proposal for a Space Force within the Department of the Air Force. Proponents note the concept is similar to one that won bipartisan approval in a House defense authorization bill two years ago, making it more likely to pass than original plans to have a Space Force as a separate department. A pre-decisional draft of the legislative proposal SpaceNews reviewed last week indicates the Pentagon will seek "special temporary authorities" to move personnel from other services to the Space Force on either a voluntary or involuntary basis. The proposal suggests the Pentagon believes it could take five years to align personnel and funding for the Space Force until it reaches its projected size of 12,000 to 15,000 people, most of whom would come from existing organizations.The Pentagon wants lawmakers to incorporate its legislative proposal into this year's defense authorization bill and approve a $72 million appropriation to establish the Space Force headquarters.
展开▼
