Councilwoman Misty Spears of San Antonio’s District 9 has voiced concern following the announcement that key Army commands will be moved from San Antonio to North Carolina. The affected units, Army North and Army South, are set to merge into a new Western Hemisphere Command based at Fort Bragg.
Spears highlighted the economic significance of military installations in San Antonio, noting they support over 86,000 jobs and make up about seven percent of the city’s workforce. She acknowledged that federal officials have described the number of relocating personnel as limited but warned that “the broader impact on the regional economy and defense ecosystem could be significant.”
She urged swift action: “The decision to shift missions away from San Antonio should serve as a wake-up call. Our city must move quickly, with urgency and unity, to retain and recruit new defense opportunities and protect economic opportunities for our active-duty military, veterans, and their families. San Antonio has the talent, infrastructure, and heart to remain Military City USA, but we must fight for it.”
Spears also outlined ongoing efforts with local, state, and federal partners aimed at holding the Department of War accountable and attracting new missions aligned with San Antonio’s strengths in military medicine, cybersecurity, aerospace, and bioscience. She stated: “Immediate actions include collaborating with economic development and military affairs leaders, pursuing congressional oversight of relocation decisions, and identifying investments that strengthen the city’s competitiveness for future missions.”
She emphasized that San Antonio remains a leading defense hub due to its advanced training facilities and research centers. Investments at Joint Base San Antonio have improved infrastructure for potential mission growth.
“Our community cannot afford to wait. We will act with urgency to secure new missions, safeguard local jobs, and ensure San Antonio’s continued leadership in national defense,” Spears said.
