The White House has issued a policy statement to object the establishment of a new space-focused military branch and prohibition of another round of base realignment and closures proposed in the House’s fiscal 2018 defense spending bill, Defense News reported Wednesday.“The administration is in the midst of conducting several strategic reviews that affect multiple provisions in this bill, such as those addressing space organization and management and naval ship force structure,†the White House said in the policy document released Wednesday.
“Once these reviews are complete, the administration will be prepared to suggest modifications to these provisions.â€
The Trump administration also cited concerns with the measure’s proposals to require the defense secretary to notify the congressional defense panels about military cyber operations as well as provisions over the use of overseas contingency operations funds, procurement of satellite services from foreign companies and establishment of a program of record to build a ground-launched cruise missile platform.
The policy statement came weeks after the House Armed Services Committee voted on the bill.
Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), chairman of HASC’s tactical air and land forces subpanel, proposed an amendment to the measure that would remove a provision to create the new Space Corps.
The House Rules Committee on Tuesday listed 88 amendments that were up for floor debate, the report added.
