Increasing the Space Force’s Resources

Dear Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Reed:

According to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Commission, since 2014 China has pursued a “whole-of-government” strategy to become the world’s preeminent space power. Achieving space superiority is part of China’s larger strategy of achieving dominance in every domain and overcoming the United States’ advantages in the warfighting domain of space. This is a primary reason why Congress wisely created the U.S. Space Force (USSF) in 2019. However, the threats emanating from this domain continue to expand and evolve, growing far larger than initially thought. As Secretary of the Air Force, Troy Meink, stated in December 2025 about the Chinese threat, “…They are very, very innovative as well. It’s not just copying us. They are super innovative in how they’re operating, which puts even more pressure on us to innovate faster.” And as Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, stated just a few months earlier: “The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent.”

Accordingly, the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) resolutely supports proposals discussed at AFA’s Warfare Symposium to double the personnel strength and total budget of the service. Toward that objective, AFA respectfully recommends the congressional defense committees in Fiscal Year 2027: 1) authorize an increase in personnel strength of the service by 1,500 positions, whether military, civilian or contractor; 2) increase the amount spent on improving infrastructure by $1.7 billion and military construction by $500 million; and 3) authorize the service’s total budget of $47.2 billion.   

The Growing Threat 

According to the Department of Defense’s 2025 Annual Report to Congress: China’s Military and Security Development Involving the People’s Republic of China:

“Throughout 2024 China expanded its space launch, SATCOM and ISR capabilities, hastened development of LEO [low earth orbit] mega-constellations that will provide additional SATCOM resilience, and relied on its commercial space sector to drive innovation. These improved space-based capabilities likely enhance the PLA’s effectiveness by improving space situational awareness, increasing its ability to detect U.S. aircraft carriers and expeditionary forces, and enabling long-range precision strike against U.S. and allied forces.”

The Department’s report goes on to warn:

“China is developing counterspace capabilities designed to restrict U.S. use of space and space-enabling technologies in a conflict. The PLA almost certainty plans to conduct terrestrial and space-based kinetic and non-kinetic antisatellite (ASAT) operations during a conflict with the United States…. The PLA’s large and dispersed inventory of reversible counterspace systems, including disruptive lasers and jammers, almost certainty provides China sufficient capability to execute such operations with little warning.”

Additional Personnel Required  

In 2019, when Congress authorized the establishment of the USSF, the threats to and requirements of the new separate military service were still being defined. As these exigencies became better understood, Congress acted and, for the past two years, made important increases to the authorized military personnel strength of the service. Yet, ironically, during this period the actual number of personnel working to achieve USSF missions and priorities decreased due to hiring freezes and reductions in civilian and contractor positions.”

However, to address new and expanding missions, additional personnel are urgently required in such areas as the command and control of expanding constellations, the execution of both offensive and defensive satellite operations, and the vastly growing numbers of space launches.¹ Therefore, AFA respectfully recommends the congressional defense committees in FY’27 authorize an increase in personnel strength of the service by 1,500 positions, whether military, civilian or contractor.

Additional Infrastructure Required 

As the size of the USSF grows to meet the requirements of the warfighter, so must the infrastructure which supports the service. For example, upgraded infrastructure is needed for additional information technology and the resulting security requirements. New and refurbished infrastructure is also required to disperse space operations centers. Further space, including training facilities, is necessary as the service expands the number of those professionals dedicated to acquisition and achieving vital missions such as Space Superiority. Therefore, the service requires an additional $1.7 billion for improving infrastructure and $500 million in military construction for FY’27.  

Additional Financial Resources Required  

AFA appreciates the congressional defense committees providing an additional $13.8 billion to the Space Force through the Reconciliation Act. These additional resources were particularly welcome since the President’s FY’26 Budget Request was $26.1 billion.   

However, rather than being a “one-time shot in the arm”, AFA believes this higher level of total funding should be sustained over time, becoming the new baseline for determining the Space Force’s annual budget. Specifically, the outyear funding of a greater baseline budget is essential to build longer-term commercial relationships and execute development programs to counter emerging threats to our nation when commercial options are not available. Therefore, AFA respectfully recommends the Congress authorize funding greater than the approximately $42.4 billion allocated last year, specifically $47.2 billion.  

Accordingly, the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) resolutely supports proposals discussed at AFA’s Warfare Symposium to double the personnel strength and total budget of the service. In order to achieve those goals, AFA respectfully recommends the congressional defense committees in Fiscal Year 2027: 1) authorize an increase in personnel strength of the service by 1,500 positions, whether military, civilian or contractor; 2) increase the amount spent on improving infrastructure by $1.7 billion and military construction by $500 million; and 3) authorize the service’s total budget of $47.2 billion. These plus ups provide a concrete step towards doubling the budget and manning of the Space Force over the next five years to a 30,000 personnel strength with required infrastructure and a $60 billion budget.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.  

Yours truly,

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1. Additional workers are required across the entire Space Force enterprise. Specifically, in acquisition, launch services, satellite operations, training, expanded combatant command support, and space sensors.  Further workers are also required to meet new mission objectives in: tactical surveillance, reconnaissance, and tracking; dynamic space operations, data analysis and defending our forces.