CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — President Trump established his planned Space Force Tuesday with a signed directive, and if Florida lawmakers get their way, its headquarters will be in Florida.

  • Space Force directive signing Tuesday
  • Space Force will be part of the Air Force
  • Florida Congressional delegation sent letter to acting defense secretary

Trump signed the Space Force directive Tuesday afternoon at a ceremony that includes Vice President Pence, who heads up the space council.

"Although United States space systems have historically maintained a technological advantage over those of our potential adversaries, those potential adversaries are now advancing their space capabilities and actively developing ways to deny our use of space in a crisis or conflict," it said in the presidential directive. "It is imperative that the United States adapt its national security organizations, policies, doctrine, and capabilities to deter aggression and protect our interests."

The Space Force will be part of the Air Force, with the goal of ensuring American dominance in space. The president originally wanted space force to be a separate branch of the military. That might still happen in the future. 

Several members of Florida's Congressional delegation send a letter to the acting Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan, to establish a U.S. Space Command headquarters in Florida. 

Republican Reps. Michael Waltz and Bill Posey were joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers that included Reps. Stephanie Murphy, Charlie Crist, Gus Bilirakis, Daniel Webster, Ted Yoho and others.

The letter pointed out that Florida was already home to a space hub for civilian and commercial space operations. 

Florida is also home to other military command centers. U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. U.S. Southern Command is in Doral.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is also sending a formal request to the president to bring USSPACECOMM to Kennedy Space Center. 

The cost to set up Space Force is expected to be included in President Trump's 2020 budget proposal, which will be sent to Congress next month.

Information from DC reporter Samantha Jo Roth, Associated Press was included in this report.