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President Trump signed an order to begin the process for establishing a new branch of the military that would be dedicated to handling threats in space. But critics say it still raises the danger of militarizing space.
Today, I’m thrilled to sign a new order taking the next step to create the United States Space Force. Adversaries — and whether we get along with them or not — they’re up in space. And they’re doing it. And we’re doing it. And that’s going to be a very big part of where the defense of our nation — and you could say offense, but let’s just be nice about it, and let’s say the defense of our nation — is going to be. That’s why my administration has recognized space as a war-fighting domain and made the creation of the space force a national security priority.
President Trump signed an order to begin the process for establishing a new branch of the military that would be dedicated to handling threats in space. But critics say it still raises the danger of militarizing space.CreditCredit…Doug Mills/The New York Times
- Feb. 19, 2019
WASHINGTON — President Trump moved forward with his planned United States Space Force on Tuesday, signing an order to begin the process for establishing a new branch of the military that would be dedicated to handling threats in space.
Mr. Trump’s directive orders the Defense Department to “marshal its space resources to deter and counter threats in space” — which the Pentagon already does. The newly created Space Force would be overseen by the Air Force, a concession to congressional critics who say the Pentagon does not need to add to its sprawling bureaucracy.
The president needs congressional approval to create a Space Force; his initial proposal for it to be a separate branch of the military — equal to the Army, the Navy and the Air Force — was met with resistance. Congress and the Pentagon recommended that the force be placed under the Air Force’s purview.
Proponents of a Space Force argue that the Air Force does not pay enough attention to outer space, even as Russia and China are developing antisatellite weapons that could pose a threat to American satellites.
“Although United States space systems have historically maintained a technological advantage over those of our potential adversaries, those potential adversaries are now advancing their space capabilities and actively developing ways to deny our use of space in a crisis or conflict,” the directive said.
Signing the directive at the White House, Mr. Trump cited the United States’ “adversaries — and whether we get along with them or not — they’re up in space.”
Critics said the move to create a Space Force could end up militarizing space.
“If concentrating authority in a Space Force creates an incentive for nations to build space weapons that increase the likelihood of conflict, it would be a profoundly bad idea,” Laura Grego, a senior scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists, a watchdog group, said in a statement.