Ranking Members Lofgren and Sorensen Statement on NASEM Report Assessing the Future of NASA
(WASHINGTON, DC) — Earlier this week, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Math’s (NASEM) Committee on NASA Mission Critical Workforce, Infrastructure, and Technology released their report entitled, NASA at a Crossroads: Maintaining Workforce, Infrastructure, and Technology Preeminence in the Coming Decades. The report was mandated by Congress through the CHIPS and Science Act and seeks to offer a “high-level review of NASA’s workforce, infrastructure, and technological capabilities that are most relevant to the strategic goals specified in NASA’s 2022 Strategic Plan.”
“This report will help ensure NASA is set up for success in the future and provides important insight to inform the Committee’s work,” said Ranking Members Lofgren and Sorensen. “That was our intent when we directed the NASA Administrator to work with the Academies to deliver this report through the CHIPS and Science Act. The report identifies critical gaps NASA and Congress must address for the Agency to remain the preeminent federal organization for cutting-edge technology and exploration. The authors recommend improvements to address multifaceted and systemic issues—from workforce and technology to aging infrastructure.
The Members continued, “As noted in the report, an unpredictable and waning budget presents a major obstacle for NASA, especially when it comes to years-long missions. NASA is forced to make tough decisions about which missions move forward, and which do not. Meanwhile, extremists continue their mission to employ Trump’s Project 2025 Agenda and strip federal science agencies of funding, and NASA is no exception. This will impact our leadership in science and will be a major detriment to our ability to compete with China.”
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