Good morning! Welcome to your Friday Morning Brief, bringing you the latest updates on defense and global affairs for May 30, 2025. The US Space Command’s headquarters in Colorado requires $1.5 billion in upgrades, reviving a push to relocate it to Alabama. Anduril and Meta are building AR/VR tools for the US military. Israel approved 22 new West Bank settlements, sparking global backlash. Saudi Arabia urged Iran to take Trump’s nuclear deal seriously or risk war. Ukrainian drones hit Russia’s Kursk; fighting intensifies in Sumy and Donetsk. Zelenskyy says Russia is stalling peace talks. Macron and Hegseth attend Asia security talks amid China tensions.

 

Space Command HQ in Colorado Requires Major Construction, Renewing Alabama Relocation Debate: GAO Report

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealed that significant new construction would be required to support US Space Command’s operations in Colorado Springs, casting doubt on the long-term viability of its current location at Peterson Space Force Base.

The finding comes as the Trump administration considers reversing the Biden-era decision to keep the headquarters in Colorado, potentially shifting it to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama—originally selected in 2021 during Trump’s first term.

The GAO report stated that Space Command faces ongoing personnel, facility, and communications challenges that undermine operational sustainability. Despite being fully operational, the command is understaffed and operating from temporary and leased facilities that lack sufficient security, power, and IT infrastructure.

Space Command officials told the GAO that these limitations pose risks to mission execution and necessitate a permanent, purpose-built headquarters.