House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said on a podcast Wednesday he expects an official announcement later this month that Space Command will move to his home state of Alabama, prompting swift pushback from Colorado House Republicans. 

It is the latest in a years-long tussle between Huntsville, Ala., and Colorado Springs over the command, a battle some thought was over when President Joe Biden made the decision to leave the command in Colorado in 2023. 

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The Colorado lawmakers emphasized that as Russia and China have made significant investments in space, keeping Space Command in Colorado Springs is vital for national security. 

Congressman Jeff Crank, R-Colorado Springs, was among the lawmakers on a call Thursday morning talking about efforts to keep the command, which is in charge of protecting and defending the area 62 miles above the earth. Space Command employs service members from across the military branches in those efforts. 

“I have asked many of our senior leaders what is the military value of moving Space Command and point blank they say, there isn’t any,” Crank said.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Windsor, said she has been talking with President Donald Trump for months about the importance of keeping the command at Peterson Space Force Base, where it has reached full operational capability. 

“Our entire delegation is working really diligently to ensure we keep Space Command in Colorado,” she said. 

While Colorado lawmakers and others celebrated Biden’s decision, including holding a party in Colorado Springs’ America the Beautiful Park, Rogers was one of the fierce opponents even after that announcement, using his powerful committee position to withhold funding to build a new headquarters building at Peterson.  

Rogers announced the command’s pending move on a podcast hosted by the McCrary Institute.

“I expect sometime during in the month of April that Space Command will officially be assigned to build its headquarters in Huntsville, but they already have a big space mission up there,” Rogers said. 

He said he expected the announcement after the new Air Force secretary is named. 

Boebert said other states are eager for a chance at the command, such as Florida and Arizona. 

“The more members from other states that get involved, I think the easier it is to just stay put in Colorado,” she said.