The deadline extension gives the defense until Feb. 20 to respond to the claims in the October filing by Colorado’s Attorney General.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A federal judge has granted the Trump administration an additional month to respond to the State of Colorado’s lawsuit seeking to block the relocation of U.S. Space Command to Alabama.
In a motion filed on Tuesday, Department of Justice attorneys requested that the deadline to answer or otherwise respond to the complaint be moved from Jan. 20 to Feb. 20, 2026. The court’s approval of this unopposed request provides federal defendants more time to determine whether they will file a formal answer or move to dismiss the case entirely.
Reasons for the Delay
The Department of Justice cited several factors for the extension request, including:
Complex Litigation: The need to evaluate whether to file a dispositive motion in response to Colorado’s constitutional and Administrative Procedure Act challenges.Workload and Health: The “press of other existing deadlines” and a scheduled two-week medical leave for lead counsel starting in late January.Lack of Opposition: Colorado’s legal team, led by Attorney General Phil Weiser, did not oppose the extension.
The Core Dispute
The lawsuit centers on the Trump administration’s decision to move U.S. Space Command headquarters from Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.
Attorney General Weiser alleges the move is a form of political retaliation against Colorado for its use of universal mail-in ballots. Conversely, the White House maintains that the move to Alabama is a “merit-based decision” intended to enhance national security and operational readiness.
What’s Next?
The extension shifts the next major milestone in the case to late next month. While Colorado is seeking an immediate pause on any relocation steps, this ruling ensures the federal government has until late February to present its initial legal defense.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, the Trump administration has signaled it is moving forward with the relocation without delay. In December, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth travelled to Redstone Arsenal for a high-profile visit focused on the transition of U.S. Space Command Headquarters.
Hegseth was greeted on the tarmac by local officials and military personnel, marking a clear physical presence of the administration’s commitment to the Alabama site.
The centerpiece of the Secretary’s visit was a designation ceremony officially marking the establishment of the headquarters facility in Alabama.
