The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is the space service branch of the U.S. Department of Defense, established in December 2019. Its primary role is to organize, train, and equip space forces to protect U.S. and allied interests in space by ensuring space superiority. The USSF manages space launch operations, satellite operations, space environment surveillance, and satellite defense, and partners with organizations like NASA on space domain awareness and planetary defense. Key areas of focus include missile warning, satellite communications, and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The White House required inclusion of Space Force authorization as a condition in the 2019-10-01 NDAA deal.
The 2019-10-01 NDAA provides the Secretary of the Air Force authority to transfer Air Force personnel to the newly established Space Force.
The 2019-10-01 NDAA does not authorize hiring of new personnel for the Space Force.
The 2019-10-01 NDAA establishes the U.S. Space Force in Title 10 as the sixth Armed Service of the United States under the U.S. Air Force.
The White House agreed on 2019-12-06 to grant 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all federal workers in exchange for Space Force authorization.
The President's budget request for Space Force stand-up includes $72,400,000 to establish the Space Force headquarters.
Cost estimates for creating the Space Force have ranged from $500,000,000 to $2,000,000,000 per year.
Compromise language to authorize the Space Force in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 will be introduced on 2019-12-09, with a House vote scheduled for 2019-12-11.
The Pentagon cannot create the Space Force while operating under a continuing resolution.
It is unclear whether the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act will authorize the Department of Defense to establish a U.S. Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces.
During her confirmation hearing on 2019-09-12, Barbara Barrett endorsed creating a Space Force as a separate branch of the U.S. armed forces.
Preparations to create a space service under the Department of the Air Force continue despite an uncertain political climate and no assurances from Congress that it will enact a Space Force in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.
Senate appropriators funded the Department of Defense’s requested amount of $72,400,000 for the Space Force.
House appropriators approved $13,500,000 to study and refine plans for the potential establishment of a Space Force.
The Senate version of the 2019-10-01 NDAA does not explicitly require establishment of a Space Force but directs preparations to move in that direction.
Lt. Gen. David Thompson has worked directly with congressional committees on National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 language to authorize a Space Force.
Of the $72,400,000 Space Force funds, $8,600,000 is to transfer certain civilian positions from other organizations.
The House version of the defense bill included $15,000,000 in the Operations and Maintenance, Space Force account.
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved $72,400,000 to stand up the Space Force in fiscal year 2020.
Of the $72,400,000 Space Force funds, $9,900,000 was requested to hire 65 full-time staff.