Colorado’s congressional delegation — minus one — urges Air Force to keep U.S. Space Command here

In a adjacent unanimous appeal, 8 of 9 members of Colorado’s legislature delegation sent a missive Thursday to the caput of the Air Force, urging him to suspend the Trump administration’s determination to determination the U.S. Space Command office from Colorado to Alabama.

The missive said Space Command’s migration from Peterson Air Force Base successful Colorado Springs to the Redstone Arsenal successful Huntsville, Ala., “undermines our quality to respond to the threats successful abstraction and is disruptive to the existent mission.”

It besides states that the determination needs further review, fixed the information that “significant grounds exists that the erstwhile president’s governmental considerations influenced the last decision.”

Rep. Ken Buck, a Republican from Windsor, was the sole subordinate of Colorado’s legislature delegation to not motion the letter. Buck’s bureau didn’t instantly respond to a petition for comment.

The Trump administration’s decision connected Jan. 13 to marque Huntsville the imperishable home of U.S. Space Command was roundly criticized by Colorado politicians of some parties. On Jan. 26, each subordinate of Congress from Colorado asked President Joe Biden‘s medication to reconsider the move.

Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, a Republican, said successful January the determination was based connected “politics” and that outgoing President Donald Trump chose Alabama to reward Sen. Tommy Tuberville, 1 of the 8 Republican senators who challenged portions of the Electoral College certification successful Congress.

“There are a batch of indications that authorities whitethorn person been involved,” Suthers said.

Thursday’s missive noted that Colorado already has captious subject assets successful spot that would marque it the perfect spot for Space Command, including the National Space Defense Center, the U.S. Northern Command, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, and the U.S. Air Force Academy — each successful Colorado Springs.

“Ninety miles north, Buckley Space Force Garrison hosts the National Reconnaissance Office’s Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado,” the missive besides noted.