WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott sent a letter to President Donald Trump, encouraging his administration to consider relocating NASA’s headquarters from Washington, D.C. to the Space Coast.
In a release, Scott said that NASA’s lease is set to expire in 2028, which has prompted state leaders like Gov. Ron DeSantis and Scott to push for the shift to Florida.
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In fact, Scott and fellow U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody introduced a bill back in March that would officially bring NASA’s headquarters to Brevard County.
Through his letter on Tuesday, Scott made the following arguments as to why the shift should happen:
- Save Taxpayer Dollars: “Florida’s construction and utility costs are significantly lower than Washington’s, eliminating the need for wasteful spending on a new D.C.-based HQ.”
- Space Industry: “SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and others already operate in Florida. NASA leadership must be where innovation happens.”
- Enhance Efficiency: “A move to Florida will break NASA free of Washington’s stagnation and refocus it on results-driven leadership.”
- Leverage Florida’s Workforce: “Florida boasts 140,000 aerospace workers and top-tier engineering programs that will fuel the next era of space exploration.”
- Global Connectivity: “Florida’s major airports and seaports provide seamless access to Washington and beyond.”
- Space Race: “China’s space industry, technology, and ambition is advancing rapidly, and we cannot afford complacency. Moving NASA headquarters to Florida will reduce costs, drive innovation and solidify America’s dominance in space.”
After DeSantis brought up the possibility in January, the Palm Bay City Council unanimously voted to offer up city land to be used as the new potential site of NASA Headquarters.
City leaders said the move would boost the state’s economy, though critics argue NASA should have a place in the U.S. Capitol because of federal funding.
Regardless, Scott’s full letter to Trump can be read below:
250520 NASA HQ by Anthony Talcott on Scribd