President Trump is unlikely to get congressional approval anytime soon for his proposal to establish a Space Force as a new and completely separate branch of the armed services. But the Pentagon is moving quickly to do the next best thing: asking the president to quickly stand up a new combatant command, to be known as Space Command, according to a report in Defense One.
“The department will recommend that the president revise the Unified Campaign Plan to create the new U.S. Space Command by the end of 2018 and evaluate the need for any additional personnel, responsibilities and authorities,” according a copy of a 14-page draft report reviewed by the news outlet. “Initially, the Pentagon will recommend that the head of Air Force Space Command also serve as the commander of U.S. Space Command. Space liaisons will be installed in the geographic combatant commands, starting with U.S. European Command.”
In June, Trump verbally directed the Pentagon to begin planning for a “separate but equal” Space Force. If Trump agrees to creating Space Command, the move would lay the groundwork if Congress approves the president’s vision in the future.
The plan, produced under the direction of Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, would also create a new joint agency to buy satellites for the military, and a new warfighting community that draws space operators from all service branches, Defense One reported.
Pentagon officials have said they plan to provide the White House with a legislative proposal to send to Congress in order to fulfill Trump’s plan for a full-fledged Space Force.
