Colorado Springs Leaders Push Back on State Lawsuit Over Space Command, Defend U.S. National Security
Chamber & Economic Development Corporation to file Amicus Brief with City Council and El Paso County (Colorado) backing; warning litigation undermines mission readiness and urges focus on execution, not politics.
Colorado Springs, CO ─ (January 21, 2026) ─ The Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation, Southern Colorado’s largest business organization, announced plans to file an Amicus Brief opposing a lawsuit brought by the Colorado Attorney General regarding U.S. Space Command, a case local leaders say was neither requested nor supported by the region and does not serve America’s national security interests. Both Colorado Springs City Council and El Paso County (Colorado) Board of County Commissioners have passed resolutions backing the Brief, warning that continued litigation over U.S. Space Command risks mission readiness, disrupts military families, and injects politics into decisions that should remain under federal authority.
“Space dominance is non-negotiable for America’s security,” said Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, President & CEO of the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. “This Amicus Brief is a clear stance on our region’s commitment to mission readiness and strategic innovation over politics, because protecting the nation is bigger than any headquarters debate; Prolonging uncertainty through litigation puts national security at risk and military families in limbo, and we will not stay silent when that happens.”
Rather than focusing on litigation, the region is committed to building strong partnerships with the federal administration to ensure America’s space and defense capabilities remain ready and modernized for the future. The nation’s competitors are foreign adversaries, not fellow states; the region is committed to working collaboratively with federal partners and defense communities across the country, including Alabama, to maintain the strongest possible posture against threats from foreign adversaries.
The Amicus Brief puts partnership over partisanship and solidifies Colorado Springs’ central role in advancing national security missions, including groundbreaking initiatives such as the Golden Dome. In his May 20, 2025, address, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth pointed out that the Golden Dome is being designed in close coordination with NORAD, USNORTHCOM, USSPACECOM, and other Department of War stakeholders to ensure smooth collaboration with immediate data sharing. Many of these critical assets are already based in Colorado Springs. In addition, leading defense firms with a strong presence in the region, such as BAE Systems and Booz Allen Hamilton; have secured positions under Golden Dome’s SHIELD (Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense) contract, cementing Colorado Springs’ role in U.S. space and defense missions.
Underscoring its commitment to national security, El Paso County Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution supporting an Amicus Brief prepared by the Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation. The brief opposes Colorado’s lawsuit and signals the region’s intent to work closely with federal partners to protect mission readiness and maintain stability in U.S. defense operations.
“America’s security depends on decisive leadership,” said Carrie Geitner, Chair of the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners. “While the Space Command basing decision wasn’t the outcome we hoped for, the original process made clear what our military needed. We respect the President’s constitutional authority to make mission-critical decisions that keep our nation safe. Our focus is on strengthening America’s defense, not prolonging uncertainty through litigation. We stand ready to partner with President Trump’s administration to expand our national security footprint.”
Following the Colorado Springs City Council’s passage of a resolution supporting this approach, Council President Lynette Crow-Iverson stated: “Colorado Springs City Council strongly supports keeping U.S. Space Command here, but suing the President is not a productive path forward. Litigation risks politicizing what should remain a mission-driven national security decision. Our commitment is to partnership with U.S. Space Command, the Department of War and the federal government to ensure America’s security.”
Colorado Springs and El Paso County have long been recognized as a cornerstone of America’s national security and a hub for aerospace and defense innovation. The region hosts U.S. Northern Command, North American Aerospace and Defense Command (NORAD), U.S. Space Force, and five of Colorado’s six military installations, alongside more than 150 aerospace and defense companies driving critical national security missions. These organizations deliver cutting-edge technologies essential to missile defense and space operations. For example, Boeing’s missile defense systems at Schriever Space Force Base, play a key role in protecting the United States and its allies from long-range missile threats.
“Colorado Springs is a pillar of America’s defense, delivering the infrastructure, technology, and talent that keep our nation safe,” said Seth Harvey, CEO of Bluestaq, a defense company headquartered in Colorado, and Chairman of the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC Board of Directors. “Our region is ready to lead the next generation of defense initiatives. Collaborating with federal partners and industry leaders is essential to accelerate programs like the Golden Dome, which will redefine homeland security. Lawsuits and unnecessary conflict slow progress and jeopardize the success of aerospace and defense businesses that keep America safe.”
U.S. Space Command, charged with overseeing military operations beyond Earth’s atmosphere, has been a focal point of national debate since establishment in 2019. Initially headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, the Command achieved full operational capability in December 2023, reinforcing its mission of space-based defense and combat readiness. In 2020, the Department of War launched a competitive, nationwide process to select a permanent headquarters location. Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, emerged as the top choice among six finalists: Albuquerque, NM; Bellevue, NE; Cape Canaveral, FL; Colorado Springs, CO; and San Antonio, TX.
While Colorado Springs ranked mid-to-lower tier in several categories, the process highlighted opportunities for the region to strengthen infrastructure, workforce support, and resilience to meet long-term mission requirements. Since that time, Colorado Springs and El Paso County have aggressively addressed gaps identified in the original basing report, investing in key infrastructure to support mission success. The region has added more than 5,000 affordable multi-family housing units, partnered with military installations to meet critical energy resilience requirements, and enhanced emergency response, childcare and medical support capabilities. At the same time, average annual wages have risen to $65,338 (as of 2025), keeping pace with the cost of living. These investments position Colorado Springs and El Paso County to sustain strategic national security assets and workforce readiness, ensuring the region remains competitive for future military installations and basing decisions.
“Operational and community readiness are essential to delivering the war-winning capabilities necessary to counter the space threats to our national security. Colorado Springs has worked hard to support military families and critical national security missions. As this region looks forward, not backward, we must put 100% focus on partnerships and preparing for the next challenge and the next opportunity to serve.” said Sue Payton, former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition and Co-owner of SCI Aerospace, Inc.
Regional leaders argue that reopening settled decisions through litigation distracts from that progress and delays certainty for military personnel and their families.
While debate over U.S. Space Command’s headquarters continues, the Amicus Brief makes one point clear: Colorado Springs and El Paso County is focused on the future, not on lawsuits. The region is committed to advancing new mission sets and strengthening America’s defense; and urge the Colorado Attorney General to join in prioritizing collaboration over litigation.