I want to cut defense overall

but I see no problem with spending some of that on defending space infrastructure(satellites, etc) and focusing more on advanced technologies(larger space ships, engines to move them and shielding) that could help humanity finally move outwards. Think about it for one second:

1. We could finally have a respectable space station to replace the international space station that will likely be going out of commission within the next 5-10 years. There's no way the republicans are going to fund an replacement so that means we're stuck totally on earth.
2. We could have the ability to send people to mars and the moon in numbers that will make it more then a one off and maybe even create colonies. I know earth firsters are against this, but making it happen means hundreds of billions of dollars in increase economic development and higher paying jobs.
3. Kids and young adults being able to look up and that will motive them to go to college to become scientist. This will once against increase the size of the economy.

Nasa is starved to the bone and will never be able to do it.

If we move outwards we will have something of a space force one day anyways. Hell, at this very moment three branches of the military already do have some focus on it,,,so really this is just bringing them together.

I don't support violence in space but realize that there's a larger picture.