Trump Adminstration Wants ‘Space Force’ to be in Operation by 2020

An outline submitted by Vice President Mike Pence details the ways Congress will come together to organize its management of space activities, with the goal of having the newly proposed Space Force up and running by 2020. Previously, the U.S. military has relied on the Air Force to conduct any operations in space, mainly being providing surveillance for on-ground support through the use of launched satellites into Earth’s orbit. However, the creation of the Space Force will reduce the spread of these responsibilities, putting under a singular branch of the military.

President Trump announced the creation of this new sixth branch of the military in mid-June during an advisory council meeting, stating “I’m hereby directing the Department of Defense and Pentagon to immediately begin the process necessary to establish a Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces.”

Since then, the administration has been scrambling to make the goal a reality. President Trump has begun the process by asking for increased funding in his annual budget request next year, according to Pence. The administration will then work with Congress to create the Space Force through the use of the National Defense Authorization Act, which outlines the annual budget and policies of the Department of Department, which the Space Force would fall under.

However, Congress has already passed the NDAA for the fiscal year of 2019, and it was devoid of any language alluding to the creation of the Space Force. This means we won’t be seeing any real progress toward the sixth branch of the military until 2019, when Congress, along with the Trump administration, can begin exploring new possibilities.

This hasn’t stopped President Pence from outlining specifics of the new military force. He called for a new “elite group of joint warfighters, specializing in the domain of space.” These new elite military personnel would become the newly minted Space Operations Force. 

Despite the obstacles in the way for establishing a new branch of the military, it seems Pence is determined to make it a reality. “Creating a new branch of the military is not a simple process,” Pence said during his speech. “It will require collaboration, diligence, and, above all, leadership. As challenges arise and deadlines approach, there must be someone in charge who can execute, hold others accountable, and be responsible for the results.”