In a highly complex dynamic — one in which official positions directly contradict unofficial but highly-sourced anonymous statements — it is clear that states with the most restrictive abortion policies may suffer consequences for restricting women’s autonomy.
Some officials in the Defense Department and in Congress believe that the Biden administration is slowly laying the groundwork to reverse moving the U.S. Space Command’s permanent headquarters to Huntsville, Alabama — and leaving the major military center in its current location in Colorado Springs — in part because the administration has concerns over the impact of Alabama’s highly restrictive abortion laws.
NBC News reports that “one U.S. official” states that: “The belief is they are delaying any move because of the abortion issue.” And another unnamed official is saying, “This is all about abortion politics.”
Whether abortion politics is a driving concern or not, “politics generally,” certainly is.
Months after Alabama announced its post-Dobbs abortion laws, the Biden administration ordered a study about the process used by the Trump administration in determining to move Space Command.
The study found no improper influence even though Trump bragged he was “single-handedly” responsible for the state’s selection over others.
Meanwhile, though there are reports that the Biden administration may be looking to reverse the move,
The underlying reasoning, however, is vague:
“Biden administration officials have signaled privately to Pentagon officials and lawmakers that they’re looking to reverse the Alabama decision over concerns about operational disruptions that moving Spacecom’s headquarters, which is currently located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, could bring,” according to NBC News.
Given that women are critical to our military and national defense, the need to travel to a state that provides reproductive care could be considered a significant operational disruption.
Meanwhile, officially, the White House flatly denies that abortion policy plays any role.
But there is little doubt that the White House’s war with Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is impacting the delay in the decision, even if only a minor consideration.
Sen. Tuberville continues to block 243 of the Biden administration’s nominees for military positions solely in protest over the Pentagon’s abortion policy.
An NBC source says that the White House is “trying to delay as much as possible” because “they don’t want to aggravate Tuberville even more.”
Meanwhile, Alabama’s invaluable AL.com reports that Tuberville says the administration’s decision regarding the permanent home for Space command is, “putting politics above national security.”
Tuberville recently brought on a lot of heat when he advocated some atrocious and offensive politics over national security by supporting allowing white nationalists to serve in the military as “normal Americans.”
Tuberville did not warmly welcome the NBC report:
https://twitter.com/SenTuberville/status/1658272568766263297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1658272568766263297%7Ctwgr%5E33ee1394b91090334d1575d75f150e25f48360ed%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.al.com%2Fnews%2F2023%2F05%2Ftuberville-biden-putting-politics-above-national-security-by-not-moving-space-command-to-alabama.html
And Tuberville, understandably, believes that Huntsville is a better location for Space Command without regard to politics. It is his state after all.
The facts are clear and undeniable. Huntsville is a better home for U.S. Space Command than anywhere else. https://t.co/vPrjtWEMUF
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) May 16, 2023
To be sure, Tuberville is not a young woman serving in the military, many of whom may disagree.
The fact is that politics always plays a role (minor or significant) in major governmental decisions, military or otherwise, that impact a state’s economy.
As a direct example, one needs only to look back to 2005 and the intense infighting over which military bases to close and which to keep open.
Politics also infuses private contracting decisions, whether military or construction, that significantly impact a company and state (or city) economy.
So, while the White House denies that Alabama’s uniquely restrictive abortion laws play a role in its review of the decision, it is entirely fair to ask, “Why not?”
Just don’t ask Sen. Coach Tuberville…unless it’s about “white nationalist, normal Americans” serving in the military.
I can be reached at jasonmiciak@gmail.com, @JasonMiciak
