U.S. Representative Mike Rodgers (R-AL) and U.S. Representative Jim Cooper (D-TN) are the top representatives on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee which oversees military space operations. They recently introduced legislation to the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) to require the U.S. Air Force to establish a "Space Corps" as a distinct branch of the military by January 1, 2019 to serve “as a separate military service within the Department of the Air Force and under the civilian leadership of the Secretary of the Air Force." The HASC is preparing to vote on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
"There is bipartisan acknowledgement that the strategic advantages we derive from our national security space systems are eroding," said Rep. Rogers and Rep. Jim Cooper in a statement. "We are convinced that the Department of Defense is unable to take the measures necessary to address these challenges effectively and decisively, or even recognize the nature and scale of its problems."
The United States Armed Forces has five branches: the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard. The Department of Defense only has three subordinate departs: the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and Department of the Air Force. The Marine Corps operate under the Department of the Navy. The Coast Guard is under the Department of Homeland Security. The new Space Corps would be set up to work closely with the Department of the Air Force under the authority of the Secretary of the Air Force.
There would be a Chief of Staff of the Space Corps who would have a seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They would be similar in rank to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. The legislation also calls for a U.S. Space Command under the U.S. Strategic Command.
The U.S. Congress is concerned that the rapidly increasing space infrastructure being launched by multiple nations poses a potential threat to U.S. space infrastructure. Hostile nations could destroy U.S. satellite networks disrupting communication and surveillance systems that are critical to national security. In the future, there will be even more activity in space. While international treaties ban weapons in space, the U.S. military is concerned that a rival nation may militarize space.
Some Air Force generals support the formation of the Space Corps but the Air Force Chief of Staff says that the Air Force should be in charge of military operations in space for the time being. He said, "Whether there's a time in our future where we want to take a look at this again, I would say that we keep that dialog open, but right now I think it would actually move us backwards."
The process of passing legislation is long and complex. First there will have to be a formal legislative markup session in the HASC which to review the new portions of the NDAA on June 22. Following the review, the entire HASC will need to vote and approve the bill prior to a debate on the House floor. The House will vote on the bill after July 4th. The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a markup session on the NDAA on June 28th before a vote to send it to the floor of the Senate. If the legislation survives and is approved in both the House and the Senate, then it will be sent to the White House for the President’s signature.
Even if this legislation to form the Space Corps does not survive to be passed into law, the circumstances that prompted it to be drafted will not disappear. The debate about creating the Corps will continue and eventually it is expected that there will be a sixth branch of the United States Armed Services.
