The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report that highlights some of the shortcomings in the decision-making process regarding the potential headquarters for the US Space Command at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.

In 2023, President Joe Biden announced that the Space Command headquarters would stay in Colorado, even though just two years earlier, the Air Force Secretary had pointed to Redstone Arsenal as a viable option.

The report was produced at the request of U.S. Representative Mike Rogers, who leads the House Armed Services Committee. It outlines GAO’s findings, criticizing the Air Force’s selection process for not adhering to established “alternative analysis” (AOA) best practices.

According to the report, “GAO believes that AOA best practices are pertinent and, when properly executed, can ensure that such foundational decisions are transparent and well-grounded.” The report stresses the importance of developing base guidance that aligns with these practices to enhance the Air Force’s positioning and reduce the risk of bias affecting decision-making.

This document examines steps taken by the Air Force and other stakeholders from May 2022 to July 2023, focusing on permanent headquarters locations, how AOA best practices were integrated, and the current status of the US Space Command Headquarters slated for Fall 2024.

It is anticipated that Troy Meink, the newly confirmed Air Force secretary, will formally announce a return of Space Command to Huntsville, though no official statement has been made yet.