Watch CBS News

Gov. DeSantis Asks President Trump To Make Florida The Headquarters for Space Force

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis formally asked President Donald Trump to make Florida the headquarters for Space Force.

On Tuesday, DeSantis wrote in a tweet:

"Today, I am formally sending a request to @realDonaldTrump to place the headquarters for the Space Force Combatant Command here in Florida @NASAKennedy in Cape Canaveral. This is part of Florida's history and is a logical fit for our state."

Earlier in the day, Trump signed a directive centralizing all military space functions under a new Space Force, which will be overseen by the US Air Force.

Technically, it will be up to Congress to approve the initiative.

In 2018, Trump had wanted the Space Force to be the sixth branch of the military. "We are going to have the Air Force and we are going to have the Space Force -- separate but equal," he said then.

In making the case for Florida, the office of the governor released the following statement:

"Florida is perfectly positioned for this headquarters with several important strategic facilities and Air Force bases, including the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Eglin Air Force Base in Valparaiso and Patrick Air Force Base in Cocoa Beach, which currently provides space launch operations support through the 45th Space Wing."

"Florida's growing commercial space industry provides jobs for nearly 100,000 Floridians in over 470 aerospace and aviation companies that do business in the state. These companies export more than $7.6 billion in goods annually, providing major economic impact to Florida. USSPACECOM headquarters would significantly reinforce the positive impact the space industry has on Florida's economy."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.