Washington, May 14 (RHC)-- U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned space force has been supported by lawmakers at the House of Representatives.  The House Armed Services Committee voted down a proposal by Ohio Republican Representative Mike Turner during the panel’s markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Republican Representatives Mike Rogers and Jim Cooper were hoping for a space war fighting unit under the U.S. Air Force, as well as a sub-unified command that would report to Strategic Command.

The feasibility of a space force, however, is not clear, Turner suggested, citing an upcoming assessment to be released by the Defense Department (DOD) in summer, by which time the lawmakers should wait.

“We’re in the process of awaiting the report we asked for, and yet we’re going to jump forward in this mark and direct DOD to undertake a reorganization while we’re asking them to study the reorganization,” Turner said.

Fierce opposition from the Pentagon last year made a proposal for a dedicated space force to be stripped out in negotiations with the U.S. Senate.  Turner added that Defense Secretary James Mattis should have “the flexibility to be able to take action if the report that we’ve asked for comes up with a recommendation different than we’re calling for.”