As you likely know, the President announced this week that U.S. Space Command Headquarters will be moved out of El Paso County. I am opposed to this decision and determined to continue to fight to minimize the impacts on our community.

While such a move will take years to implement, I am confident that this is not an across-the-board move and that important assets and jobs related to the Space Command mission will remain in El Paso County. I have also been told that Space Force missions will continue to expand in our community, and our military installations will play an integral part in President Trump’s Golden Dome Initiative.

Moreover, El Paso County will continue to be home to our five military installations, including Peterson and Schriever Space Force Bases, and Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station.

Here are the facts: Warfare is increasingly moving into orbit, and Colorado Springs remains well-positioned to capitalize on this emerging battleground.

The space-based threat from Russia and China is only rising, and the United States will continue to call upon our community to meet the threat.

I will continue to use my role on the House Armed Services Committee to ensure that investment and opportunities in our community continue to grow.

Political opportunists will try to use this announcement for political gain – that is only self-serving and counterproductive.

The reality is that El Paso County is poised to see an increase in missions, especially when our area has established itself as the de facto home of the Space Force and the center of America’s orbital warfare efforts.

This is undoubtably a difficult moment for our community, however, I am confident that when the dust settles, our community will have more jobs and more Department of Defense missions than today. Colorado’s Fifth Congressional District will continue to be home to our five military installations and keep its proud history of supporting our military; I look forward to its future as a critical part of our national defense.

Congressman Jeff Crank is currently serving his first term in Congress as the Representative of the 5th district of Colorado.