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President Donald Trump isn't giving up on his vision of creating a new Space Force within the US military, even if it has to start out small.
Speaking at the Brookings Institution Tuesday morning, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein confirmed reports that Trump will sign Space Policy Directive 4. "That will establish the Space Force... within the Department of the Air Force," Goldfein said.
Initially, the White House had sought to create a Space Force as a brand new branch of the military, equal in standing to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. But the proposal ran into opposition from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress, which must approve the creation of a new military branch.
With Democrats now in control of the House of Representatives, the White House appears to be pursuing a "plan B" that sets up a sort of miniature Space Force under the Air Force. Notably, the new entity maintains the Space Force name, and the directive that's awaiting the president's signature also keeps the goal of converting it into a full-fledged military branch at some point in the future.
"I think the fact that we're having a national debate on space is really healthy," Goldfein said. "We're the best in the world in space and our adversaries know it. They've been studying us and they've been investing in ways to take away that capability in crisis or conflict... We as a nation cannot let that happen."
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by Runaway1956 on Thursday February 21 2019, @02:58PM (3 children)
When the REAL space force, consisting of sailors and marines, comes into existence, there will be jurisdictional disputes. The air force will be permitted to operate up to near the earth/moon LaGrange poins. From there on out, it's going to be the real force.
May the Navy be with you, and the Marines watch out for you.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 21 2019, @04:39PM
It will be consolidated like the Canadians but for the whole world.
(Score: 3, Funny) by krishnoid on Thursday February 21 2019, @09:08PM
And they'll all be courageously led by a brilliant, capable leader [youtube.com], clad primarily in velour.
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Thursday February 21 2019, @09:56PM
You're half-right about this. The reason why a new Space Force is ludicrous is because both the Navy and Air Force each already have their own space forces.