The groundbreaking ceremony at Kirtland Air Force Base (Eli Chevalier/U.S. Air Force photo)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) The U.S. Air Force has begun construction on a facility at Kirtland Air Force Base that officials said will play a role in the proposed "space defense."

The Albuquerque Journal reports the Air Force Research Laboratory's $12.8 million Space Control Laboratory will consolidate efforts on the New Mexico base.

The new facility will include office and lab space for 65 civilian and military contractors. It will contain a 5,000 sq.-ft. high-bay laboratory space and more than 5,000 sq. ft. of secure office, laboratory and meeting space.

Air Force Col. Eric Felt said space is now "a war-fighting domain."

President Donald Trump has proposed creating a new U.S. Space Force — a plan that has hit widespread resistance on Capitol Hill.

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