Negotiations between Senate and House Republicans over a bill to reauthorize NASA have stalled, just as President Trump visited the Johnson Space Center in Houston. This legislative gridlock is becoming a major headache for the administration, as it threatens to derail the President’s top priority of establishing a permanent base on the moon. According to The Hill, this internal GOP friction is causing concern for those hoping to see the Artemis program fully realized.
The Hill noted that the legislative trouble stems from a spat between the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. Both panels are led by Texas Republicans, specifically Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Brian Babin. These talks were originally expected to wrap up in the spring, but broke down over specific language regarding the moon base and the future of the International Space Station.
