The chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force displays the service’s uniform nametapes in the Pentagon Jan. 17 in Arlington, Virginia. Tech. Sgt. Robert Barnett
That Settles That: White House Is Keeping Space Force
A flip remark drew some criticism, and a clarification.
The Space Force is here to stay.
The Biden administration has no plans to get rid of the military’s newest branch, championed by former President Trump and eventually approved by Congress.
“They absolutely have the full support of the Biden Administration,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday. “We are not revisiting the decision to establish the Space Force.”
Psaki’s comments came one day after she drew criticism from some lawmakers for what they called insulting comments about the branch of the military and its members, newly termed guardians. When asked by a member of the press on Tuesday whether Biden planned to eliminate the Space Force, Psaki compared the question to a reporter’s question last month asking if Biden planned to change the color scheme of Air Force One, as called for by former President Trump.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee and one of the largest champions for the Space Force, called for Psaki to apologize.
“It’s concerning to see the Biden administration’s press secretary blatantly diminish an entire branch of our military as the punchline of a joke, which I’m sure China would find funny,” Rogers told Politico.
A few hours later, Psaki tweeted: “We look forward to the continuing work of Space Force and invite the members of the team to come visit us in the briefing room anytime to share an update on their important work.”
Wednesday morning, Gen. Jay Raymond, the chief of space operations, told reporters during a Defense Writers Group Zoom call that he would “welcome the opportunity."
Eliminating a military branch takes more than an executive order, so the administration would have to introduce legislation, which Congress would ultimately need to approve. Since there is bipartisan support in Congress for the Space Force, it’s unlikely lawmakers would approve such a measure.