Under U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for world domination all the way out to lunar orbit, the budget of the Space Force is to be doubled. The problem, according to an April 16 article in Politico, is that the service has neither the personnel nor the programs to absorb such an increase in funding. And even if they did, the nation’s existing supply chain would be hard-pressed to meet demand, Politico says.
The push to build out military space systems is a watershed moment for the agency, as the U.S. races to stay ahead of China in the battle for satellite supremacy, Politico goes on. But key components of those weapons—from microelectronics to valves—are hard to come by. And, as a result of mass firings of federal workers directed by Elon Musk, last year, the service doesn’t have enough experienced officers to ensure the right companies are getting contracts to build those weapons.
