WASHINGTON — U.S. Space Command headquarters is officially moving to Huntsville, ending a yearslong back-and-forth between Alabama and Colorado.
Flocked by Republican members of Alabama’s congressional delegation in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he’s relocating Space Command headquarters to Huntsville from Colorado Springs. The announcement reverses former President Joe Biden’s decision to make Colorado the permanent home of the command in 2023, citing military readiness.
“I am thrilled to report that the U.S. Space Command headquarters will move to the beautiful locale of a place called Huntsville, Alabama,” Trump said. “Forever to be known from this point forward as Rocket City.”
Alabama Republicans at the White House and throughout the state heaped praise on Trump after the announcement. The state’s congressional Democrats, who were not invited to the press conference, are also optimistic about the decision.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, has been at the forefront of the push to make Huntsville the site of the headquarters.
“Space Command is finally coming home to Alabama,” Rogers said in a statement to Alabama Daily News. “This announcement by President Trump is yet another in a long line of strong decisions that benefit America’s national security.
“Alabama was chosen in 2021 because it was the absolute best location for the Space Command headquarters. Today, in 2025, it remains the best location for our national security and for the taxpayer. This basing decision has been affirmed and reaffirmed by multiple agencies and multiple officials throughout both the Trump and Biden administrations.”
The battle between Alabama and Colorado officials over Space Command started in 2021 when the U.S. Air Force deemed Redstone Arsenal the preferred site to host the headquarters based on a series of criteria. Biden then reversed the decision two years later, keeping it in Colorado. Both states’ elected officials have argued that each president’s decisions were politically motivated.
Alabama’s bipartisan lawmakers have remained adamant that Space Command belongs in Huntsville, citing the Air Force’s 2021 decision and subsequent reports that detailed the decision-making process.
“Alabama’s world-class aerospace and defense workforce, capabilities, and synergies stand ready to fulfill the mission and strengthen our national security long into the future,” U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said in a statement.
Alabama lawmakers were visibly giddy Tuesday about the move.
“You think of the 21 categories that were evaluated to determine what was best for national security, all indicators pointed back to Huntsville, Alabama and Redstone Arsenal,” Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, said in the Oval Office.
“We have the right people at the right place, at the right time, Mr. President, on behalf of the people of the Fifth Congressional District and all of Alabama, thank you for keeping your word.”
The command directs military space operations, from communications and intelligence gathering to missile defense and radar.
Two reports released earlier this year rehashed the debate between which state would be the best host to the headquarters, with Alabama being the cheaper option and Colorado being the one that would lessen disruption.
“Thankfully, President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and Secretary Meink are restoring merit and integrity to the process and saving taxpayers nearly a half a billion dollars,” U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, said in a statement.
During the press conference, Tuberville suggested that the headquarters should be named the “Donald J. Trump Space Command Center” in Huntsville.
When asked by a reporter if he’s concerned that people might not relocate to Alabama to work at the new headquarters, Trump said he’s “not worried” and then quickly pivoted to riff on Colorado’s mail-in voting system, signaling that it was a factor behind moving the headquarters.
Colorado responds
Colorado’s congressional delegation vowed to fight the decision Tuesday, arguing it “will directly harm our state and the nation.”
In a bipartisan joint statement, Colorado lawmakers said moving it to Alabama “sets our space defense apparatus back years, wastes billions of taxpayer dollars, and hands the advantage to the converging threats of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.”
Speaking to reporters after the announcement, Strong responded to the Colorado delegation’s statement and highlighted how the move is expected to make the headquarters less expensive to build and maintain, and that Huntsville provides an extensive talent pool.
“We’re gonna have some folks from Colorado that will be joining us, and they’re gonna be some of the brightest minds, but there’s gonna be a lot of these jobs that we will fill from our local colleges and universities,” Strong said. “These are good paying jobs, and this is exactly…what our community is about.”
Lobbying campaign
Members of Alabama’s delegation have spoken personally with Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force Secretary Troy Meink throughout the past several months to advocate for relocating the headquarters to the state. The president acknowledged how often the lawmakers had discussed the issue with the White House.
“Every one of these people would call me and lobby me,” Trump said. “They fought very hard to get it, and it’s an honor to give it to Huntsville.”
Alabama’s congressional Democrats, who also lobbied to bring Space Command to the state, applauded the announcement.
“I have been an outspoken proponent for bringing Space Command to its rightful home in Alabama, and I have repeatedly joined my colleagues in the Alabama delegation—under both Democratic and Republican administrations—to make clear that Huntsville is the best location based on the merits,” Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, said.
Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, called it a “win” for Rocket City and Alabama.
“Huntsville has long been a leader in aerospace, and I believe the state has shown it can handle our nation’s space defense,” he said in a statement on X. “This move will not only create high-quality jobs in the region, but will also bring significant investments that benefit the entire state.”
Trump let each GOP lawmaker chime in on the decision during the Oval Office event.
“Space is the ultimate high ground, and what we’re doing with moving the Space Command to Huntsville is absolutely critical to our maintaining dominance in that sphere, and it goes hand in hand with what we’re trying to do with the Golden Dome and missile defense to defend against anyone else who tries to enter that sphere,” Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Birmingham, said.
Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, thanked Trump for making defense and the “safety of this nation” a priority and for investing in the Golden Dome, which will also have ties to Huntsville.
Congressman Robert Aderholt said Trump “made it right” by officially relocating the command.
“North Alabama is ready for the transition, and the benefits will be felt across the entire country,” Aderholt, R-Haleyville, said in a statement.
Local reaction
Now, the focus turns to Huntsville leaders as they continue to invest in the surrounding area to support the growing operations at Redstone Arsenal.
“The decision to locate U.S. Space Command at Redstone ensures our nation is prepared to meet growing challenges in space,” Mayor Tommy Battle said. “Huntsville is ready with our experienced workforce, resilient infrastructure and deep commitment to national defense.”
Around 60 acres of land at Redstone have been identified for the new headquarters facility, according to the city of Huntsville.
The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce said Redstone provides a “shovel-ready site” and ability to tackle large construction projects.
“Our community has a proven track record of supporting the Department of Defense when they have moved key functions and stood up new operations,” CEO Chip Cherry said in a statement. “We will use that experience to support the personnel associated with Space Command and their families as they relocate to the Huntsville region.”
Gov. Kay Ivey also celebrated the move, highlighting her work over the years.
“The Redstone Arsenal region was ready to welcome Space Command Headquarters when I made the official pitch to the Defense secretary in June 2019, and it remains ready today to not only welcome Headquarters, but to welcome all of the military personnel and their families,” Ivey said in a statement.
The story has been updated with additional comments.