We know of no qualified military space expert, including an array of retired Air Force generals, who think Space Command should leave Colorado Springs. The Pentagon’s team of experts who studied the future of Space Command recommended keeping it in the Springs for a broad array of cultural, economic and strategic reasons.
Trump’s decision came after Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett reportedly traveled to Washington this week to advise Trump of the Pentagon’s decision. Sources tell Gazette Senior Military Editor Tom Roeder the commander in chief summarily overruled the Pentagon’s decision that favored Colorado.
The Gazette’s editorial board feared this outcome and expressed that concern in a Sept. 16 editorial. Trump had a close relationship with then-Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., and Gardner spent multiple meetings persuading Trump to keep Space Command here. Trump, we believed, would retaliate against Colorado if voters ousted Gardner. In addition to replacing Gardner, Colorado trounced Trump in his reelection bid.