Trump Establishes the “Space Force,” A Sixth Branch of the Armed Forces

During a meeting with the National Space Council, President Trump ordered the establishment of the Space Force, a sixth branch of the Military. Trump called out Joseph F. Dunford Jr. from the crowd by stating he would be very honored if the general would carry out the assignment. “We got it,” is what the general replied.

This New York Times article describes the common responses revolving around concerns with the added bureaucracy the Space Force would entail and the excessive spreading of resources to accomplish its formation.

Trump’s reasons to establish the Space Force are to monitor commercial traffic, debris, and satellites, it would be “great for jobs”, and increase the psyche of our country. That seems like a colossal undertaking and cost to accomplish those goals. During the 60’s in the midst of the Cold War when anit-Russian sentiments were arguably at an all time high, the muscle flexing space race to get to the moon first at least had the backing of the unified national ego. In my opinion the scales don’t balance to justify a Space Force given what we are told.