Trump talks 'Space Force'

Speaking Tuesday during a ceremony at the White House, President Trump again referenced the possibility of a new military service for space, which he has dubbed the "Space Force."

While presenting the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the U.S. Military Academy's football team, Trump began listing the military services, adding "we're actually thinking of a sixth, and that would be the Space Force."

"We're getting very big in space," he continued. "Both militarily and for other reasons, we are seriously thinking of the Space Force."

This is the second time Trump has referenced the Space Force idea publicly.

House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Ranking Member Jim Cooper (D-TN) have been leading efforts in Congress to reform space management and acquisition within the Defense Department. The Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act directed the department to develop a plan to move toward the creation of a Space Corps and to hire an independent research organization to conduct a similar study.

Rogers said in a May 1 statement he is "thrilled" that the idea has support from the president, noting that his pitch for a Space Corps is similar to the Space Force Trump has touted. Rogers said he and the president spoke in April about the need for a separate military space service.

"I was honored to talk to President Trump about this critical initiative and appreciate his support on an issue that is so important to me and the safety and security of the United States," Rogers said.

Air Force officials have spoken out against the proposal, stating that large organizational changes would be a distraction from the service's mission.