09 03 25 Colorado Springs mayor Yemi Mobolade on Trump's plan to move Space Command

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is Colorado's Morning News. Marty lens giaganda Good morning.
Leaders in Colorado Springs are disappointed over yesterday's announcement from
President Trump at US Space Command will relocate from Colorado
Springs to Huntsville, Alabama.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
And Kaway's Connor Shreeves spoke with Colorado Springs Mayor Emi Mobilaude,
who said in a statement that this move threatens operations
continuity at a time when space related threats are only increasing.

Speaker 3 (00:23):
We have long understood that this is the top priority
for the Trump administration, and so from the very beginning,
from day one, we have been working actively with our
congressional delegation and many community leaders and partners to ensure
that Space Command is here and there, right in its
rightful home. And the reason why is because we truly
believe not just that it makes sense for Colada Springs,

(00:48):
but truly is in the best interest of our national
defense and our global standing as a country.

Speaker 4 (00:55):
So what are the next steps from your perspective in
terms of trying to count to President Trump's announcement and
keep things in Colorado Springs.

Speaker 3 (01:03):
I think one of the challenges, Connor, that we have
as a community is that we've we've been hinging someone
that we've been hinging the success of our community and
our aerospace defense economy on this one single decision, and
that is not true. Colorado Springs is already a global
leader in space and we will continue to seek new

(01:26):
opportunities for expansion and growth of our military capacity and capability.
And we know also that will have benefits to the
private side of things. So our our existing space assets
are really they're ready, and they're positioning us for the
next chapter in the American space space story. I think
it's important to point out that the pie is bigger.

(01:50):
We believe that space operations will grow in Colorado Springs.
If you're paying attention to President Trump's priorities, you can
see that we're expecting more investment as a country. And
when you think about cities who in communities who are
already poison set up for that, Colorado Space is a
top one from the Air Force Academy, the only academy

(02:12):
that prepares guardians for future of space is in the city.
When you think about Nora at Northcom and some of
the assets and the work we do even with our
partners such as Canada, I mean we're positioned for a
golden though. In that respect, when you're thinking about our
two Space Force basis Riva and Peterson, and the work

(02:33):
that happens from those bases, from GPS operations to US
Space Operations Command. I can keep going on and off,
but you can see that we are poised, and so
we expect more growth and will continue to go after
more growth.

Speaker 4 (02:47):
That said, what would the impact to Colorado Springs be
of losing Space Command.

Speaker 3 (02:54):
That's a great question. Honestly, we don't know yet. It's
too soon to tell. My understanding. Even just moving a
combatant command takes time. I've heard three to four years.
I've heard eight years. So we don't expect any loss immediately.
But what I've heard connor is to expect more growth.

(03:14):
When I've talked to our military partners, one of the
things I said is that we need more capacity to grow,
that there's no space to grow, and that any if
Space Command moves and that gives us an opportunity to
grow exist and ABCD. So I actually think I think
people expecting to see loss, I actually believe that we're

(03:35):
going to see growth.

Speaker 1 (03:36):
Now.

Speaker 3 (03:37):
I don't have the numbers on either side to say
this is a loss or This is a growth, but
we will be paying close attention to it, and we
will be advocated hard to ensure that that grace, that
growth is sustained.

Speaker 4 (03:50):
This location was initially earmarked as a temporary location for
Space Command. Why do you think Colorado Springs deserves to
be the permanent location.

Speaker 3 (04:00):
It started as a temporary location when before the US
Space Force was birthed, So Space Command started under the
US Air Force. And since Space Force was birthed, the
two Air Force bases and color Springs have since been
converted to Space Force bases, and Space Command has gone

(04:24):
from a temporary location to reaching full operational capability back
in twenty twenty three. So we've already transitioned from this
space of defining a relationship what are we are? We
are we something or not? And I feel like we've
moved past that now even though we are full operational capability,

(04:48):
the President are chosen to move it. We respect a decision,
we honor a decision, but that doesn't change the fact
that this is already in stone, not only for Colorado Springs,
but for the future of our country. I mean, we're
mission ready to keep it in Colorada Springs, save US money.

(05:11):
But as a as a political leader, I know politics
is a real thing and so I can't I can't
speak to why the decision was made, but in terms
of what's practical, what's mission critical, and in the spirit
of government efficiency.

Speaker 1 (05:27):
With that to see it leave Colorado Springs, mayor yummy
mobilatte