Fresh off a rebuff, of sorts, over its bid to claim executive agent status for higher flying unmanned aerial vehicles, the Air Force reportedly is seeking to lasso development, acquisition, and operational control over future military and national security satellite programs. Andy Pasztor of the Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) that Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel, boss of Space and Missile Systems Center, told an industry conference in Los Angeles this week that USAF wants to curtail “fractious infighting” and develop a “more coherent framework.” The Air Force has yet to present the plan to Pentagon leadership or Congress, but he told Pasztor that there is some lawmaker support for fencing military space programs to prevent funds encroachment. He sees the USAF push for unified control as building on that.
With no end to the government shutdown in sight, Airmen, Guardians, and defense civilians face increasing uncertainty about whether or not they will be paid—and how to make ends meet if they are not.
