Shanahan considers Capitol Hill 'space day' to help sell Space Force

Acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan said today the Pentagon may hold a “space day” on Capitol Hill to convince lawmakers who remain skeptical about the Trump administration's proposal for a new Space Force.

Shanahan, who appeared today before the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, said the briefing would have “less DOD vernacular.”

House Appropriations defense subcommittee Ranking Member Kay Granger (R-TX) said it is “astonishing” that after a recent Space Force briefing she left with the impression that “we don't really know what we're doing.”

She urged Shanahan to better engage Congress as she would “hate” for the idea to go by the wayside.

Time is also running out for the Pentagon to make its case as the Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled to begin marking up the defense authorization bill later this month.

The administration's Space Force proposal met stiff resistance from Senate authorizers last month.