Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., said Thursday he plans to introduce a stand-alone bill in January that would give the Pentagon the authority it needs to create President Trump’s new Space Force military service.
The bill will be based on a legislative proposal expected from the military this fall, as well as input from Vice President Mike Pence and House lawmakers on the Armed Services Committee, said Rogers, who is a subcommittee chairman.
Pence and the Pentagon on Thursday unveiled a sweeping new plan aimed at creating the sixth service branch, but they will need Congress to pass legislation before it can become a reality. Rogers has spearheaded the space service effort with Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., for about two years.
“Our plan is to have a freestanding bill in January that we can introduce that would give the Defense Department the authorities that it needs to complete this separate process,” Rogers said. “We intend to roll that bill into the [National Defense Authorization Act], which is a vehicle that we know will become law.”
The Pentagon will work up its legislative Space Force proposal to Congress by November and will immediately start building four main components of the future military service branch — a Space Development Agency, Space Operations Force, Space Command, and services and support.
Many details such as the cost and the exact structure of the Space Force are still unknown.
[Related: Trump 2020 campaign asks supporters vote on logo for Space Force merch]
Rogers said concerns over a price tag might be used by opponents on Capitol Hill who try to sink the legislative effort, and that the Armed Services leadership including Rep. Mac Thornberry are focused on deflecting such attacks.
“As far as when we’ve got this separate service stood up, I would expect the number of personnel that work in the Space Force would equate pretty doggone close to the number of personnel, active duty and civilian, that are currently working on that mission,” Rogers said. “So, I don’t see a lot of additional cost after this is over with.”
Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan said an estimate of the cost will not be completed until November.
“We have not done the cost estimation yet,” Shanahan said. “I would assume it is billions.”
