Posted: Sun, Jun 24, 2018, 10:10 AM ET (1410 GMT)
President Trump used Monday's National Space Council meeting to direct the Pentagon to establish a Space Force. Trump, in remarks at the beginning of the meeting at the White House, said he was directing the Defense Department to "immediately begin the process necessary to establish a Space Force" as an independent, sixth branch of the military. Sources said Pentagon officials had been advised the president would be directing the creation of a Space Force at the council meeting, but offered few comments afterwards about the president's statement. Creating the Space Force would require an act of Congress, and some members have spoken out in opposition of such a move.

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