Washington D.C. –U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03),Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, demanded Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) Commanding General. James Dickinson, comply with the House Armed Services Committee’s demands for transcripts of interviews and other documents pertaining to the headquarters of USSPACECOM and missions requirements. According to the U.S. office, Secretary Kendall and General Dickinson have not been able to effectively respond to a series of Congressional request for oversight.
In the letter in the letter, Chairman Rogers wrote “Your refusal to comply with the Committee’s repeatedly repeated requests for documents that are responsive and transcripts of interviews should be viewed as obfuscation or purposeful delay, as evidenced by the fact that the decision to base was made and the requests of the Committee were unsatisfactory. This is inadmissible.”
Chairman Rogers added, “It now appears you have something to hide, or else an open response to the committee’s requests for patience and many more would have already been received. If you do not adequately respond to my requests, I will be forced to request a subpoena for the relevant documents that we have repeatedly requested and also to request your appearance on compulsion.”
The complete wording of this letter is listed below:
Thank you, Secretary Kendall and General Dickinson:
Again I have received of documents purportedly addressed to the Committee’s request for range of documents relating to the change to U.S. Space Command’s (USSPACECOM) headquarters and the mission’s requirements. Unfortunately, this latest document is not responding to the Committee’s many requests.
It is now the fifth request for information that pertain to USSPACECOM’s mission and headquarters needs. It is also not possible to answer the Committee’s request for an interview transcribed by each of you before August 18, 2023..
Your refusal to obey the Committee’s repeated demands for documents that are responsive and transcripts of interviews could be interpreted as obstruction and deliberate delay which is exemplified by the fact that the decision on basing was made and the requests of the Committee were not met. This is inadmissible.
There is a good chance that you might have something in your past to conceal, or else an honest response to the committee’s patient and numerous demands could have been forthcoming. If you don’t effectively respond, I will be compelled to request a subpoena to produce the relevant documents that we have repeatedly requested and will also seek your appearance on compulsion.
Please indicate a timeframe for the delivery of the documents that are responsive and to finalize arrangements for the requested transcription interviews by August 9 2023 so that each participant enough time to plan.
Thank you for rapid attention and consideration to our request. It is the Committee on Armed Services, pursuant to Rule X, clause 1 of the Rules of the House of Representatives (House Rules) has oversight authority on the Department of Defense generally. Furthermore, as per the House Rules this Committee on Armed Services derives its authority to oversee from among other things, section 2(b)(1) in Rule X (relating to oversight general duties) as well as paragraph 3(b) of Rule X (relating to specific oversight duties) as well as Clause 1(b) in rule XI (relating to studies and investigations).
