{"id":44198,"date":"2019-04-11T17:28:25","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T17:28:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/04\/11\/did-the-pentagon-do-enough-to-convince-congress-it-needs-a-space-force\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:18:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:18:51","slug":"did-the-pentagon-do-enough-to-convince-congress-it-needs-a-space-force","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/2019\/04\/11\/did-the-pentagon-do-enough-to-convince-congress-it-needs-a-space-force\/","title":{"rendered":"Did the Pentagon do enough to convince Congress it needs a Space Force?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON \u2014 A high-powered panel of Pentagon officials faced a group of skeptical senators Thursday during a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/space\/2019\/04\/09\/welcome-to-the-pentagons-space-week-will-it-define-the-departments-future-in-orbit\/\" target=_blank>key moment in the department\u2019s push<\/a> to create a new branch of the military focused on space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Acting Defense Secretary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/space\/2019\/04\/09\/chinese-threats-necessitate-new-space-structures-shanahan-warns\/\" target=\"_blank\">Patrick Shanahan<\/a>, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joe Dunford and U.S. Strategic Command chief <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/breaking-news\/2019\/04\/09\/heres-who-will-be-the-new-vice-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs-of-staff\/\" target=\"_blank\">Gen. John Hyten<\/a> appeared together in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee to argue on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/global\/asia-pacific\/2019\/03\/27\/in-wake-of-indian-anti-satellite-test-shanahan-urges-thoughtfulness-in-space\/\" target=\"_blank\">behalf of the Space Force<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Committee Chairman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/congress\/2019\/02\/16\/inhofe-says-hes-open-to-shanahan-for-permanent-defense-secretary\/\" target=_blank>Jim Inhofe<\/a>, R-Okla., noted at the top of the hearing that the event was a rarity \u2014 in that senators seemed to genuinely come into it with an open mind, as opposed to looking to score political points. And that feeling did indeed play throughout the almost two hour and 50 minute hearing, with members attempting to dig for clarity about the potential new military branch.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/pentagon\/2019\/04\/11\/national-reconnaissance-office-could-join-space-force-down-the-road-shanahan-says\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/div_nrol47_1a.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">National Reconnaissance Office could join Space Force down the road, Shanahan says<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The NRO could eventually join the Pentagon.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Going into the hearing, the Pentagon was well aware that this might be the best chance to sway skeptics. A read-ahead memo for Shanahan, drafted by Robert Hood, assistant secretary of defense for legislative affairs, called the hearing \u201cthe Department\u2019s opportunity to sell SASC on Space Force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The document, which was obtained by Defense News and several other outlets, provided details on what each of the SASC members had said publicly \u2014 and, in some cases, privately in routine office calls \u2014 about the Space Force. It also offered guidance on the questions those lawmakers could ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhile Chairman Inhofe and Ranking Member [Jack] Reed have expressed skepticism, many members have yet to form an opinion or speak publicly on the proposal. Members have signaled support for both U.S. SPACECOM and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/space\/2019\/04\/10\/sda-has-an-ambitious-plan-to-launch-hundreds-of-small-satellites-can-it-get-off-the-ground\/\" target=_blank>SDA<\/a>, but they have not yet been sold on the idea of a Space Force,\u201d Hood wrote, using an acronym for the Space Development Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMost notably, while members seem to have an understanding of the space threat, the perception is that the Department has not been successful in explaining to them WHY the Space Force is necessary to address that threat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To be successful in selling the Space Force to Inhofe, Shanahan should be prepared to explain how Space Force could solve current space-related problems and why it would be worth the added cost, Hood wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reed, D-R.I., \u201cfears Space Force \u2018would just add bureaucracy without effect,\u2019\u201d Hood wrote. Meanwhile Sens. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; and Rick Scott, R-Fla., had signaled they are willing to support the proposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Universally, members agreed that space is important, and not one expressed doubts about the importance of a U.S. Space Command, a combatant command that came about as the result of congressional orders. But the Space Force as a new branch was met with skepticism \u2014 early returns do not seem to have netted the results for which the Pentagon hoped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said he is \u201cgenuinely undecided, although as you can tell, I\u2019m skeptical.\u201d Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., expressly said she did not see the benefit of a new branch of the military. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., told the panel that creating a new branch of the military \u201cdoesn\u2019t make any sense to me. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/space\/2019\/03\/01\/space-force-to-cost-2-billion-include-15000-personnel-in-first-five-years\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/37721336822_f40014044a_k.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Space Force to cost $2 billion, include 15,000 personnel in first five years<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">We now know the details of the Space Force.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The skepticism was bipartisan, with Republican Sens. Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Tom Cotton of Arkansas indicating doubts about various parts of the proposal. Meanwhile, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, questioned whether the funding for a new service makes sense when readiness for existing military branches is dragging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIs it prudent to take on what would be a fairly disruptive element of a new aspect of the services in the United States military when the current five services, let\u2019s face it, are not up to the readiness that they need to be?\u201d Sullivan asked the panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several senators asked about the uncertain role for the National Guard and Reserve components in a Space Force, something that the legislative proposal kicked down the road to fiscal 2021. In response, Dunford argued the department needs to start somewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere are a number of issues unresolved, and the real question in front of the committee is: Do we stand up that organization and get that four-star leader singularly focused on what the right organizational construct is, or do we wait for the perfect organizational construct to stand it up? What I felt was to move out and refine as we go, and the committee will have plenty of time to provide oversight,\u201d Dunford said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo the initial, first step to take in this next fiscal year would be to stand up the organization, get the leadership in place and then begin to address these very important issues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That argument \u2014 that the Defense Department needs to get something up and running, and can work out the kinks as it goes \u2014 was one repeated multiple times throughout the event, by both Dunford and Shanahan. Whether the argument will fly with committee members is not yet clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/space\/2019\/03\/13\/in-memo-air-force-head-hits-space-development-agency-as-not-ready-for-prime-time\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/16x9-composite.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">In memo, Air Force secretary slams Space Development Agency as not ready for prime time<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The Pentagon wants to cut more than 100 current jobs and replace most of them with Space Development Agency roles.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pentagon watchers were closely tracking Shanahan and Wilson\u2019s interactions, as the two have repeatedly clashed over the nature of the Space Force and its associated agencies \u2014 including on Tuesday when Wilson <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/digital-show-dailies\/space-symposium\/2019\/04\/09\/top-air-force-official-takes-shots-at-space-development-agencys-first-project\/\" target=_blank>used remarks at Space Symposium<\/a> to take repeated shots at the SDA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shanahan, sitting next to Wilson during the hearing, attempted to diffuse that situation early, using the third paragraph of his comments to praise the Air Force for its work in space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLet me open my comments on the Space Force by expressing my admiration for our U.S. Air Force. Because of our airmen, and Secretary Wilson\u2019s leadership in particular, we are the best in space,\u201d Shanahan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis proposal is about maintaining the margin of dominance they have given us and accelerating the capabilities we need in this increasingly competitive domain. Establishing the Space Force within the Air Force lets us do just that,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the subject of the SDA was broached midway through the hearing, Wilson reiterated her belief that the agency\u2019s plan does not make sense.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pentagon officials were on the Hill to address a key pressure point to convince Congress to support its plan for the war-fighting domain of space.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":39778,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":23,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[100,12,25],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3323,3182],"class_list":["post-44198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-news","category-newsletters"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"BZVPNFH2KJFCDGZZ4Y2F5WAEJY","arc_canonical_url":"\/space\/2019\/04\/11\/did-the-pentagon-do-enough-to-convince-congress-it-needs-a-space-force\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Did the Pentagon do enough to convince Congress it needs a Space Force? - Army Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Pentagon officials were on the Hill to address a key pressure point to convince Congress to support its plan for the war-fighting domain of space.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/space\/2019\/04\/11\/did-the-pentagon-do-enough-to-convince-congress-it-needs-a-space-force\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Did the Pentagon do enough to convince Congress it needs a Space Force?\" \/>\n<meta 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