U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, demanded Secretary of the Air Force, Frank Kendall, and U.S. Space Command Commander, General James Dickinson, provide the House Armed Services Committee with U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) Documents. The letter follows a commitment by the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, to comply with the committee's request for documents.
In the letter, Chairman Rogers wrote, "On August 10, 2023, Secretary Austin committed personally to me the Department of Defense ("Department") intended to comply with the committee's request for documents and understood and respected the committee's right to these documents as part of its Article I oversight authority."
Full text of the letter can be found here and below:
Dear Secretary Kendall and General Dickinson:
You recently replied on August 9, 2023, following a series of letters from me requesting information concerning the process and decision on placement of the headquarters location for U.S. Space Command ("USSPACECOM"). You replied, in part, "[T]he Committee can assist the Department of the Air Force in making this process as efficient as possible by helping us understand the scope of its interests...and, especially importantly, by prioritizing its requests."
I'm glad you understand the importance of complying with the Committee's requests and producing the documents I have now requested on five separate occasions since May 25, 2023. On August 10, 2023, Secretary Austin committed personally to me the Department of Defense ("Department") intended to comply with the committee's request for documents and understood and respected the committee's right to these documents as part of its Article I oversight authority.
As I have done in each of my previous requests for these documents, I am including below a point of contact on the Committee staff should any questions remain regarding the scope of this request and the protection of any information provided. I implore you to reach out to the Committee if you have any remaining concerns regarding how the Department can best accommodate this straightforward request for information.
So that you can prioritize your document search and efficiently produce all responsive documents, I am itemizing the requested scope of relevant documents below. The Committee requests that you provide these documents no later than September 8, 2023.
The relevant documents in the Department's possession or control that the Committee seeks include:
1) On May 23, 2023, Secretary Kendall informed members of the Alabama Congressional delegation that he had launched an investigation to determine the extent to which requirements for USSPACECOM HQ had changed. Therefore, the Committee requests a copy of the USSPACECOM headquarters basing requirements as they existed on June 1, 2022, and any and all documents and communications related to any revisions made after June 1, 2022;
2) On May 23, 2023, Secretary Kendall informed members of the Alabama Congressional delegation that he had launched an investigation to determine the extent to which requirements for USSPACECOM HQ had changed. Therefore, the committee requests any and all documents related to the supplemental review and investigation of USSPACECOM headquarters location directed by Secretary Kendall, including the names and roles of personnel involved in the investigation, the amount of resources devoted to the review and investigation, and any and all investigative material arising from such supplemental review;
3) Any and all documents and communications produced after June 1, 2022, and related to the ranking of candidate cities for USSPACECOM headquarters, any proposed alternative rankings, and any documented disputes or disagreements concerning such rankings;
4) Any and all communications related to USSPACECOM headquarters location, to or from Secretary Kendall and General Dickinson, with individuals inside the Department, the White House, and state and local officials, between the dates of February 1, 2023, and July 31, 2023, the day of the President's notification of his selection of Colorado Springs for the USSPACECOM headquarters location; and,
5) Any and all documents and communications related to the decision to remove the authority to select the permanent location of the USSPACECOM headquarters from Secretary Kendall and replace directly with President Biden.
Thank you for your prompt attention to the Committee's scoped request. The Committee on Armed Services, under Rule X, clause 1 of the Rules of the House of Representatives (House Rules), maintains oversight jurisdiction over the Department of Defense generally. Moreover, under the House Rules, the Committee on Armed Services derives its authority to conduct oversight from, among other things, clause 2(b)(1) of Rule X (relating to general oversight responsibilities), clause 3(b) of Rule X (relating to special oversight functions), and clause 1(b) of rule XI (relating to investigations and studies).
Sincerely,
