U.S. Space Force Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, the chief of space operations, explained during a Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on April 9 that his branch’s budget request aims to “build, train, and equip the forces” that would carry out the work of “preserving freedom of action in space while deterring and denying adversarial objectives.”
The hearing was convened to provide officials of the Air Force, including Saltzman, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, a venue to discuss the $217.5 billion budget the department is requesting for fiscal year 2025, the Air Force website reported Tuesday.
Saltzman, a 2024 Wash100 awardee, noted that although the Space Force represents only 3 percent of the total defense budget, it nevertheless “offers a tremendous value proposition to the nation” because “[every] dollar invested in space brings asymmetric returns” while “every dollar cut creates asymmetric risk.”
According to the CSO, the largest portion of the Space Force budget is meant to be invested in ensuring the resiliency of positioning, navigation and timing; satellite communications; and missile warning and tracking.
Saltzman also underscored the importance of space superiority, for which a quarter of the Space Force budget is dedicated.
For Saltzman, space superiority is key in a conflict with a near-peer adversary.
“Without it, we cannot deter conflict. Without it, we cannot provide vital effects. Without it, we cannot protect the joint force,” Saltzman said.
