The U.S. Air Force announced on Wednesday the permanent location of many more U.S. space force units, and none of them are in Huntsville, Ala., suggesting the agency may continue with at least part of its original development plan for the new force before it got caught up in politics.

Four more Space Force missions will now be stationed in Colorado Springs, Colo., a notable choice during a larger battle over where to locate the permanent headquarters of US Space Command. Colorado Springs, which is home to Space Command’s temporary headquarters, was favored by the Air Force, but former President Trump chose Alabama instead in his last days in the White House.

Alabama has strict anti-abortion laws, and Senator Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, announced earlier this year that he would hold on to all military nominations until the Department of Defense responds to a new policy that would allow female military personnel to reimburse travel expenses if they enter the state. have to leave for reproductive care.

The Pentagon and the Biden administration have said the decision to base more Space Force missions in Colorado is not directly related to Tuberville’s actions or Alabama’s anti-abortion policies. The Tuberville office was not immediately available for comment Wednesday night.

The Space Force announcement came as President Biden headed to Colorado Springs to speak at Thursday’s commencement ceremony at the nearby US Air Force Academy.

Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, a Democrat, said he would use the president’s visit as another opportunity to push for command headquarters to be established in his state.

As President Biden and his administration approach a final baseline decision for Space Command, we urge them to restore the integrity of this process and make a decision in the interest of our national security to keep Space Command in Colorado Springs.” his office said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Air Force has made progress in becoming fully entrenched in Colorado Springs, where more than 20 of its military space missions are now stationed. The Air Force Academy now has a space curriculum and graduates Space Force Guardians in addition to its Air Force cadets.

Colorado Springs continues to establish itself as the premier location for our nation’s space defense operations, Republican Rep. Colorado’s Doug Lamborn in a statement announcing the selection.

Established in December 2019, the Space Force is the smallest of the military branches, with just under 8,400 personnel. But it has seen its budget rise rapidly as the US has scrambled to defend against a rapid militarization of space, such as North Korea’s failed launch Wednesday of a missile believed to carry a spy satellite.

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The four new Colorado Springs missions include Delta 15, a headquarters unit for the space operations command; Space Delta 12, a test and evaluation unit; and two guard squadrons.

Other locations were announced Wednesday as new permanent homes for Space Force missions in Florida and New Mexico.