GAO to investigate SPACECOM HQ selection process

The Government Accountability Office recently announced it will investigate the Air Force's base selection process for U.S. Space Command headquarters.

The Air Force in January announced its selection of Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL as the preferred permanent headquarters of SPACECOM. The command hub is temporarily located in Colorado Springs, CO, which formerly hosted Air Force Space Command.

Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) requested the review in a Feb. 1 letter to GAO, questioning the evaluation criteria for the decision and highlighting concerns that "there was untoward political influence exerted by President Trump on [Air Force] leaders to modify the process and ensure Huntsville, Alabama was chosen."

GAO announced in a March 19 letter to Lamborn that it would review the methodology and scoring of the Air Force's decision-making process.

The investigation is separate from a Defense Department inspector general review of the decision, which was initiated last month 210537. GAO notes that as it refines the methodology and scope of its review it will be in contact with the IG office to ensure it is not duplicating efforts.