Republicans unveil bill relocating NASA headquarters to Florida
(The Hill) - Republican Florida Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody introduced a bill Friday proposing the NASA headquarters, currently in Washington, be moved to Florida.
Titled Consolidating Aerospace Programs Efficiently at Canaveral Act, referred to as the CAPE Canaveral Act, the legislation would relocate the NASA headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast in Brevard County. The region houses the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Scott's office called Florida "a common sense choice" for the new headquarters.
"There’s no better place for NASA’s headquarters than Florida’s Space Coast, where our nation’s brightest minds innovate and help America reach for the stars," Scott said in a statement.
"Moving to Florida will not only save Americans’ tax dollars, it will enhance efficiency and streamline operations in this important industry with proximity to private-sector partners and a top-tier workforce ready to help America reach its space exploration goals," he added.
Echoing the sentiment, Moody said Florida is the leader in space exploration and aerospace innovation, adding that "establishing NASA’s headquarters within the Space Coast will bridge the bureaucracy gap from the top down and bring stakeholders together."
"Florida is the gateway to space and this commonsense proposal would save taxpayers money, encourage collaboration with private space companies, and tap into Florida’s talented workforce to spur further innovation," she added.
Scott and Moody are not the only lawmakers calling for the relocation of NASA's headquarters to their state with the building's lease set to expire in 2028.
On Tuesday, a group of Ohio lawmakers in Congress pushed for NASA headquarters to be moved from Washington, D.C., to Cleveland.
The lawmakers wrote a letter to Vice President Vance, who is from Ohio, and Jared Isaacman, President Trump’s pick to lead NASA, that moving the space agency’s HQ would serve as “a significant opportunity to enhance effectiveness, efficiency, and fiscal responsibility.”
The letter was signed by Ohio GOP Reps. Max Miller, Troy Balderson, Mike Carey, Warren Davidson, Jim Jordan, Dave Joyce, Bob Latta, Michael Rulli, Dave Taylor and Mike Turner as well as Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur. Ohio Sens. Bernie Moreno (R) and Jon Husted (R) also signed the letter.
These efforts come as the Trump administration has sought to transform various federal agencies and departments, cutting spending and reducing the government workforce. The administration has also indicated it would like to sell some federal buildings.
In other office moves, Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler signaled she would move several offices out of "sanctuary cities," arguing that existing locations are bad for small business communities and not complying with federal immigration law.