Report: Draft Directive Calls for DoD to Submit Legislative Proposal for ‘Space Force’

A draft policy directive would direct the Defense Department to hand over to the Office of Management and Budget by Dec. 1 a legislative proposal to establish a “space force” as a separate service branch, SpaceNews reported Monday.

The proposed Space Policy Directive-4 obtained by the publication would require DoD to submit a budget plan for the space-focused service for inclusion in the president’s fiscal 2020 funding request.

The Pentagon would need to establish a “lean” space force using existing resources to “minimize duplication of effort and eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies,” according to the draft document.

The new military branch would oversee the provision of space services to all combatant commands and would include a civilian-led department of the space force and a U.S. space force headed by a four-star officer who will also serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The SPD-4 draft also calls for DoD to establish by fiscal 2019 a space development agency.

Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled Tuesday, Oct. 23, to hold a National Space Council meeting at the National Defense University to talk about the space force formation plans.