As an ongoing political tug-of-war drags on between Alabama and Colorado to land the permanent Space Command headquarters, frustration grows among politicians from both states.

The decision, with Dr. Troy E. Meink’s approval by the U.S. Senate three weeks ago as the new Secretary of the Air Force, is expected any day to either move SPACECOM to Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal or keep it at its temporary home of Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs.

The tone throughout Alabama politicians is one of growing impatience, particularly in the wake of Thursday’s release of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealing deficiencies regarding facilities, communications and personnel challenges in Colorado.

“Once again, I don’t know how much more research they can possibly do,’’ Congressman Dale Strong (R, Huntsville) told the Huntsville Business Journal on Monday. “Every indicator points to Redstone Arsenal as what’s best for national security.”

Redstone Arsenal would have to add some infrastructure, something Alabama House Rep. Rex Reynolds (R, Huntsville) claims shouldn’t be a concern.

“We’re ready,’’ he said. “We’ve got Von Braun (Complex phases) I, II, III, and what we’ve already got going on with Space Command – we’re ready.’’

The Von Braun Complex Phase 3 is an 840,000-square foot, six-story administrative building on the arsenal that houses the Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. The basement is occupied by Secure Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) and Special Access Program Facility (SAPF) areas.

According to www.walshgroup.com, the complex also has antiterrorism/force protection measures including building stand-off distances, structural preventive collapse, blast-resistant laminated glass, lighting protection, bollards, control gates and beams.

The Air Force recommended a relocation to the Rocket City following an investigation that was completed four years ago. Then-President Donald Trump agreed and announced in 2021 that SPACECOM would move to the Tennessee Valley.

But the transition wasn’t made before Trump’s first term ended and the Biden Administration left the command in the Rocky Mountains. It’s widely believed the decision was political, kickstarting two more investigations that culminated with the GAO report.

“We’re waiting, waiting on the right decision,’’ Reynolds said. “I appreciate the way we’re doing it. We shouldn’t make a political decision. Let them make a decision on that 13-month study they did. We’re ready to go. We’ve got the space, we’ve got the manpower.’’

New construction to make the Colorado Springs facilities sustainable long-term would cost $1.5 billion as reported in 2023. Defense budget expert Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said the revelation that new construction would be required for Space Command to stay in Colorado is a blow to that state.

“The main argument for keeping it in Colorado was always that new construction would not be needed right away,’’ Harrison said. “But if that situation has changed, it certainly makes Alabama more favorable.’’

That’s not the only bad news for Colorado. According to www.military.com, Space Command had filled 1,024 of 1,379 authorized positions including 576 of 809 civilian jobs as of last October. Space Command has failed to hit the intended civilian personnel goals and has relied on contractors to supplement its workforce.

Despite the recent findings, Congressman Jeff Clark (R, Colorado Springs) insisted SPACECOM should stay put.

“Why build it in Alabama? Wouldn’t that be the question? Why move it? Why disrupt it?’’ Crank told Colorado’s KOAA News 5 on Saturday. “I don’t think this should be a decision that we say, ‘Well, it’s slightly cheaper to build it here.’ Well, you got to take in all the other costs. What about the costs of relocating staff who really are qualified people?’’

Crank, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, wrote in a social media post published by www.military.com that, “The release of (Thursday’s) GAO report is clear: Colorado Springs is the best home for U.S. Space Command’s headquarters. Continued efforts to move the headquarters only hurts [sic] our national security. Space Command is fully operational, and the Department of Defense needs to move quickly to construct a permanent HQ at Peterson Space Force Base to put the issue to bed, once and for all.’’

However, Alabama representatives stand firm arguing SPACECOM belongs in the Tennessee Valley.

“The GAO report yet again affirms that Huntsville is the best option,’’ Congressman Mike Rogers (R, Weaver), House Armed Services Committee Chair, said in a statement.

Other locations considered by the Air Force in its original review were Kirtland Air Force Base (N.M.), Offutt Air Force Base (NE), Patrick Air Force Base (Fla.) and Port San Antonio (Texas).

Said Strong, “(Colorado’s) buildings are separated – one building is 9 1⁄2 miles outside the military base with no force protection. I think in all these reports if you put all things together, I can’t even believe Colorado is even being evaluated. I think it’s clear who’s No. 1. What I’m hoping is that the secretary of the Air Force will move forward immediately. We need to go vertical.’’

Strong stressed that the entire Alabama delegation is pulling in the same direction.

“We want to do what’s best for national security,’’ he said. “The difference between us and some of these other people wanting to do what’s best for jobs or for votes, Alabama and what I’m pushing in North Alabama is to do what’s right for national security so we can get it on with our enemies.’’