On September 2, the White House announced that U.S. Space Command headquarters would relocate from Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. For Colorado, the announcement was a blow to local pride and economics, with warnings of lost jobs and diminished national security.
But it’s important to be clear: This is a decision, but not a done deal. The move itself will take years and is likely to happen in stages. Additionally, Colorado’s Attorney General, Phil Weiser, has already vowed to fight. “If the Trump administration takes this step — I’m prepared to challenge it in court,” Weiser said, arguing that required administrative processes were bypassed and that readiness and workforce impacts were ignored.
Beyond the courtroom fight, there’s another question that cuts directly to Colorado’s long-term role: What happens to the AI, data, and cyber missions already anchored in the state? These programs are less visible than headquarters staff, but they may prove far more decisive to the Space Force’s future.
Colorado leaders, from Governor Jared Polis to Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade, have made it clear that this story isn’t over. Polis called the move “a deeply disappointing decision” that “will weaken national security and readiness, waste taxpayer dollars, and inconvenience military families.” Mayor Mobolade warned of wasted billions, but stressed that “Colorado Springs, already a global leader in space, will continue to see new opportunities for expansion and growth of our military capacity.”
Additionally, Colorado’s entire congressional delegation – U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and all eight Reps. Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, Jeff Hurd, Lauren Boebert, Jeff Crank, Jason Crow, Brittany Pettersen, and Gabe Evans – issued a rare bipartisan, bicameral statement opposing the relocation, arguing it would “weaken our national security at the worst possible time,” “set our space defense apparatus back years,” and “waste billions of taxpayer dollars.”
Why it matters for Colorado: The fight is over relocating Space Command HQ to Alabama — but much of the Space Force’s AI, data, and cyber work should remain in Colorado.
What Might Move – and What Likely Stays
The decision puts at risk about 1,400 jobs and more than $1 billion in local economic activity (Denver Chamber). Strategic command functions, high-level staff positions, and symbolic prestige are the most likely to shift to Alabama.
But large portions of Colorado’s space ecosystem are deeply rooted:
- Space Delta 15 (DEL 15) at Schriever Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, focused on intelligence and cyber operations, is permanent (SoCo Digest).
- The 69th Cyberspace Squadron, also at Schriever, supports satellite control and defensive cyber operations (Wikipedia).
- ATLAS (Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System), headquartered in Colorado Springs, is scheduled to reach initial operational capability by the end of 2025, using automation and AI to improve launch analysis (DefenseScoop).
And increasingly, what makes Colorado vital isn’t just bases and staff counts, but its role in developing the AI and data tools the Space Force depends on.
Colorado’s AI and Data Edge
Colorado remains a critical hub for the AI and data backbone of the Space Force:
- At Schriever, Lt. Col. Nicholas Demakakos secured $2.5 million to build an AI prototype aimed at predictive space domain awareness (Space Operations Command).
- At the 2025 Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Gen. Stephen Whiting announced Space Command’s first-ever AI/ML strategy and an experimentation plan, emphasizing AI for battlespace awareness (National Defense Magazine).
- At Peterson Space Force Base, leaders told industry they want AI tools but insisted they must be targeted – helping with tasks like reducing admin overhead or validating massive data streams (Air & Space Forces).
- Colorado universities, from CU Boulder to CSU to Mines, have positioned themselves as essential to the talent pipeline in aerospace, computer science, and machine learning, citing contributions to space domain awareness and cybersecurity (Colorado Newsline).
These programs illustrate why Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera emphasized Colorado’s “unparalleled Aerospace & Defense ecosystem.” Unlike a headquarters sign on a building, these AI and data initiatives are deeply embedded in Colorado’s institutions and workforce.
Litigation and the Long Timeline
Even if the decision holds, the relocation won’t be quick. Building a new HQ facility in Alabama could take 14 to 18 months, and that's only after funding and planning align. Additionally, moving personnel will almost certainly be phased, as CPR News reports. That means Colorado will remain central to Space Command’s day-to-day operations – and its AI/data innovation pipeline – for years to come.
Legal experts note that Colorado faces an uphill climb – courts generally defer to the Pentagon on basing decisions – but say the state could have a case if it proves that required processes were ignored or improper factors drove the decision. Even if litigation doesn’t overturn the decision, it could slow the timeline – buying Colorado more time to deepen its AI and data footprint in space operations.
The Bottom Line
Colorado didn’t lose everything on September 2. It lost a decision, not an entire mission set. Much of what makes the state a space hub – its AI projects, cyber units, operational deltas, contractors, and universities – remains intact. And the litigation battles have just begun.
Former Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers put it bluntly: “Even if it moves, we’ll continue to assert that Colorado Springs should remain an epicenter of military and civilian space.”
In the long race for space, geography counts. But capability counts more. And Colorado’s capabilities – in AI, data, cyber, and operational expertise – aren’t going anywhere soon.
Explainer: Space Force vs. Space Command
U.S. Space Force
- The newest branch of the U.S. military, created in 2019.
- Handles the training, equipping, and organizing of Guardians (its service members) and develops the technology they use.
- Similar to how the Air Force provides air power, the Space Force builds the people and systems needed for U.S. operations in space.
Think of the Space Force as the builder and maintainer — the branch that supplies the players and equipment.
U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM)
- A combatant command originally created in 1985, disbanded in 2002, and re-established in 2019 as space became a contested domain.
- One of 11 unified commands worldwide — others include U.S. Central Command (Middle East operations) and U.S. Cyber Command (cyber defense). Each command has its own mission domain; Space Command’s is outer space.
- Draws personnel largely from the Space Force, but can pull from other branches too.
Think of U.S. Space Command as the quarterback on the field — the command that actually calls the plays and runs the missions.
