DENVER — Colorado officers filed a lawsuit Wednesday claiming the relocation of U.S. Area Command to Alabama was illegally motivated by President Donald Trump’s need to punish Colorado for its mail-in voting system.

The litigation introduced by Colorado Lawyer Common Phil Weiser asks a federal decide to dam the transfer as unconstitutional.

Then-President Joe Biden in 2023 introduced Area Command could be completely positioned in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which had been serving as its momentary headquarters.

Trump in September stated Colorado’s mail-in voting system “performed a giant issue” in shifting the headquarters to Huntsville, Alabama.

“The issue with Colorado is that they’ve a really corrupt voting system,” Trump stated. He stated earlier plans to relocate the headquarters to Huntsville have been “wrongfully obstructed” by the Biden administration.

The choice capped a four-year tug of warfare between the 2 states and opposing administrations. It infuriated each Democratic and Republican officers in Colorado, which has a booming aerospace trade.

“President Trump has unlawfully retaliated towards Colorado to punish the state for its train of sovereign authority to control elections,” Colorado officers wrote in Wednesday’s lawsuit. “The Supreme Courtroom has lengthy acknowledged that the Structure prohibits the usage of retaliation, punishment, or different coercive motion in response to the train of constitutional proper or energy.”

Area Command’s capabilities embody enabling satellite-based navigation and troop communication and offering warning of missile launches.

Huntsville — nicknamed Rocket Metropolis due to its position constructing the primary rockets for the U.S. area program — is residence to the Military’s Redstone Arsenal, NASA’s Marshall Area Flight Heart and the Military’s Area and Missile Protection Command.

Alabama officers have stated about 1,400 Area Command jobs would transition to Redstone Arsenal over the subsequent 5 years.

Alabama Lawyer Common Steve Marshall stated in an announcement Wednesday that his state would vigorously defend the relocation choice in court docket. He referred to as Colorado’s lawsuit “a partisan try and overturn a lawful, evidence-based choice repeatedly validated by navy specialists, unbiased opinions, and congressional oversight.”

A overview by the Protection Division inspector common was inconclusive and couldn’t decide why Colorado was chosen over Alabama. Trump, a Republican who enjoys deep assist in Alabama, had lengthy been anticipated to maneuver Area Command again to the state.

The White Home and U.S. Division of Justice didn’t instantly reply to e-mail messages in search of remark.