Free story: Trump's 'Space Force' order raises questions, could bolster ongoing congressional debate

President Trump last week surprised lawmakers and Pentagon leaders by directing the Defense Department to create a new military service, a Space Force.

"We are going to have the Air Force and we are going to have the Space Force," he said during a June 18 National Space Council meeting.

The announcement appears to have come as a surprise to Air Force and Pentagon officials as well as lawmakers, including House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL), who has led the congressional push to reorganize the military space mission. And it has generated plenty of speculation as to why the president is pushing for this change and what his vision is for a new military service.

Follow Inside Defense for continued coverage of the Space Force debate. The most recent story, which compiles much of our coverage to date, is now free here.