Aderholt Presses Air Force Leadership on Space Command HQ Decision

Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL4), renewed his push for the U.S. Space Command headquarters to be located at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama on Tuesday, May 6.

Speaking during a House Appropriations Committee oversight hearing and addressing Acting Air Force Secretary Gary Ashworth, Aderholt called out the Biden administration’s handling of the basing process and urged a return to the original decision made in 2021.

“Redstone Arsenal was selected as the permanent location in 2021, yet Space Command has been essentially homeless since,” said Aderholt. “This is about more than a ZIP code. It’s about ensuring that our military decisions are based on strategy, capability, and readiness — not politics.”

Aderholt’s remarks follow years of controversy surrounding the basing decision. In 2021, the Air Force announced Huntsville as the preferred permanent site. However, that decision was later revisited under the Biden administration, drawing criticism from Alabama lawmakers who accused the White House of political interference.

Independent reviews from both the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Department of Defense Inspector General (DoD IG) found the Air Force’s selection process to be sound. These findings supported Huntsville’s top ranking based on mission requirements, cost, and infrastructure.

Aderholt, a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, has long championed Alabama’s role in national defense. His latest comments reinforce his continued efforts to see Redstone Arsenal recognized as the optimal choice for Space Command’s permanent headquarters.

The video of Congressman Aderholt’s remarks is available HERE.