The White House request was first reported by Defense One, citing an Oct. 26 White House memo instructing the Pentagon to explore alternatives to the creation of a Space Force as separate military department.
A U.S. official confirmed to ABC News that the White House had asked the Pentagon to explore multiple options to meet the president’s intent for a new military service dedicated to space.
(MORE: Everything you need to know about Trump’s ‘Space Force’ )
Those additional options include the creation of a Space Force operating as a new sixth military service under the Department of the Air Force model, where a new space service would fall under the Department of the Air Force or could be as a completely separate department with its own civilian secretary, said the official.
Creating a new Space Force under the Department of the Air Force would be a model similar to how the Marine Corps operates as a separate service under the Department of the Navy. The creation of a “Space Corps” has garnered bipartisan congressional support in the past.
Susan Walsh/APPresident Donald Trump holds up the space policy directive that he signed during a National Space Council meeting in Washington, June 18, 2018.
(MORE: Pentagon, Vice President Pence tout groundwork for future ‘Space Force’)
The official stressed that all of the options are intended to meet the president’s intent for a separate space service, whether inside or outside of the Air Force.
The creation of a new Space Force has been a priority for President Trump, who has often cited it at campaign rallies.
“We are going to have the Air Force and we are going to have the Space Force – separate but equal,” Trump said.
(MORE: Trump directs creation of ‘Space Force’ as sixth branch of military)
In line with his comments, the Pentagon has focused on creating a new Space Force under a new Department of the Space Force, a move that would require congressional legislation.
“In concert with the guidance, direction, and vision from the White House, we are generating options for the Space Force as a sixth military service branch,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Buccino, a spokesman for Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan, who heads the Pentagon’s efforts to create a new military service.
But the U.S. official said that the internal discussion to meet the president’s intent has evolved to include a review of additional options.
Trump CampaignLogos for the new Space Force were released by the Trump campaign to supporters to vote for their favorite, Aug. 9, 2018.
A second U.S. official told ABC News that that there have always been different options to get to a space force.
(MORE: Air Force leaders dodge questions on Trump’s ‘Space Force’)
The White House did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday night.
An Air Force document obtained by ABC News in September estimated that the creation of a new Space Force might cost $13 billion.
But in mid-November, Shanahan told reporters he believed that the cost might be in the single digits and that “it might be lower than five” billion dollars.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
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