Air Force delays bonuses and assignments after Alabama blocks funding over Space Command HQ debate
Rachel Schilke
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The Air Force is temporarily suspending its plans regarding personnel relocation and reenlistment bonuses after Alabama legislators blocked funding for the service.
The move by the Cotton State comes amid a debate over where to place the Air Force Space Command’s new headquarters. While the facility was originally planned to be built in Colorado, the Air Force revised its plans and decided to move construction to Alabama. However, Alabama lawmakers are now placing a hold on the military branch’s funding plans until the service’s secretary makes a public announcement on the location.
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In the meantime, the Air Force will take steps to “avoid exhausting funds” and will also put off orders to relocate personnel to different stations. The branch also plans to “restructure” the bonus program for aviators and reopen it within two weeks.
“The Air Force continues to work through additional options to avoid the funding shortfall and will provide more information when available,” the branch said in a statement to NBC News.
In May, the Biden administration was reportedly considering stopping the Space Command from moving headquarters to Alabama over the state’s restrictive abortion laws. Unnamed White House officials gave conflicting answers as reasons for the relocation, with one admitting it was because of the hot-button healthcare topic.
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Lawmakers in Colorado are still pushing to keep the Space Command’s headquarters in their state. Air Force personnel that have already received orders to move this month are cleared to go forward with their new assignments, but all other change-of-station orders given post-July will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Some planned departures will be postponed, the Air Force said.
The military branch will suspend bonuses for the fiscal year ending this fall, as well. But the Air Force will allow airmen to extend their current enlistment into fiscal 2024 to permit them to secure a bonus.