The Senate's Armed Services Committee chairman reportedly does not think America needs a Space Force, and is leaving President Donald Trump's proposal out of his top priorities for next year's defense policy bill.
The decision by Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla. — along with the opposition of Inhofe's expected counterpart in the majority-Democratic House — might doom prospects for the new branch in the near future, The Hill reported.
According to The Hill, Inhofe has been briefing reporters one-on-one on his priorities for his committee next year. Space Force is not mentioned.
"It wasn't on my list, because I don't think we need it," he told The Hill on Wednesday morning. "I have time and time again, ever since this subject came up, I've said there are two things you have to answer. One is, is it going to do a better job than we're doing today? And then two, it's going to cost more — how much more money is it going to cost?"
Inhofe said he was awaiting further cost information before making a final decision.
Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanaha has estimated the costs will likely fall between $5 billion and $10 billion, The Hill reported.
"Until I hear those questions, I will be opposing it, but that doesn't mean it's not going to happen," Inhofe said, The Hill reported.
In June, Trump directed the Pentagon to create a Space Force — and though Inhofe opposed a similar House plan in 2017, he admitted in August the administration is "winning me over."
Meanwhile, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., who is expected to be House Armed Services Committee chairman in the new Congress, is also resistant to the new branch, telling reporters in the Defense Writers Group, that "it costs more money than it nets," The Hill reported.
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