Congress green-lit a New Space Force in its Joint Fiscal 2020 Defense Policy Bill, under a Proposal that would Elevate Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) to become the Pentagon’s Sixth Military Service under the Department of the Air Force.
After months of testy Negotiations, Lawmakers from Both Parties and Both Chambers agreed with the Air Force that the Space Force should become an Armed Force on its own.
The Air Force argued that without that Designation, the Space Force would Lack the Teeth to Carry Out Space Operations in a meaningful way.
Congress Released the Conference Agreement Dec. 9th, more than Two months behind schedule.
The Space Force will take over the Air Force’s Role of: Organizing, Training, Equipping Space Operators who Fly GPS Satellites, Track Space Debris, Oversee Satellite Communications, and more.
Under the Proposal, the President would Appoint an Air Force General to serve as Chief of Space Operations. That Chief would serve a Four-year Term, stretching up to Eight years in Wartime or in a National Emergency, and answer Directly to the Air Force Secretary.
According to the Conference Report, Gen. Jay Raymond, the Current Commander of AFSPC who also Serves as Head of U.S. Space Command, could Serve as the New Space Chief until a New One is Chosen.
The Defense Secretary can also Pick a Chief of Space Operations to Concurrently serve as SPACECOM Commander.
A Space Force Boss would Sit on the Joint Chiefs of Staff starting One year after President Trump Signs the Fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act into Law.
“Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize additional military billets for the purposes of, or in connection with, the establishment of the Space Force,” Lawmakers added in the conference Report. Members had mulled how to Build a Space Force without further Ballooning Pentagon Bureaucracy.
For the Space Force to take effect, Lawmakers must still Pass the Bill out of Congress and get Trump’s Approval, and Appropriators also must provide the needed Funding.
The Air Force has a “war room” of Space Experts that have been preparing for the go ahead from Lawmakers, which could come as early as Dec. 11th, to Create the New Space Force.
The Architects and Initial Leaders of the Prospective Space Force need to ensure it is Immediately Ready to be an Equal among established Military Branches, while the Formation of the New Service should be used as a way to shake up Established Acquisition Processes, Top USAF Officials said.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
