Not long after his inauguration, Joe Biden has quickly reversed some of Donald Trump’s policies and orders. However, Biden may maintain some initiatives from his predecessor, Space Force being one of them.
Biden may likely keep Space Force around although that may not be among the top priorities that his administration is aiming to tackle at the moment. This is because, in order to dissolve Space Force, it would require elimination from Congress. So far, Congress has agreed on a bipartisan level that the country’s dependence on space would be something that should be addressed by a branch of the military that is focused on this potential issue. The US’ soured relations with China has also become a factor in its creation as with Russia, both countries accused by Washington of testing the US’s presence in space.
“They’re building capabilities to use space against us. We have to be able to respond to that,” said vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Hyten to the National Space Association advocacy group. When pressed what Space Force will be under Biden’s administration, Hyten expressed his belief that Space Force should remain.
Biden has yet to comment on what the military’s involvement in space will be. However, upon occupying the Oval Office, Biden displayed a moon rock from the Apollo 17 mission. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was asked about whether or not a separate service that is focused on space was necessary prior to his confirmation at the Senate. While Austin did not suggest repealing the unit, he said he would study it and that space was a “vital interest.”
Meanwhile, Biden’s administration has pledged to safeguard American telecom companies from “untrusted vendors” that pose a threat to national security. Washington has accused Chinese telecom company Huawei of being capable to spy on its customers and intellectual property theft. Huawei has denied the accusations.
“Telecommunications equipment made by untrusted vendors including Huawei is a threat to the security of the US and our allies,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki at the daily briefing. “We’ll ensure that the American telecommunications network … do not use equipment from untrusted vendors and we’ll work with allies to secure their telecommunications networks and make investments to expand production of telecommunications equipment by trusted US vendors and allied companies.”