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4d ago

Maryland Lawmakers Press NASA on Goddard Closures as Agency Defends Long‑Planned Consolidation

NASA has told Congress the relocations predate the 2026 budget request and are being coordinated to avoid mission impacts.

In this April 13, 2017, photo provided by NASA, technicians lift the mirror of the James Webb Space Telescope using a crane at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. NASA is releasing the first images from the new telescope this week.
Saul Martinez / Getty Images

Overview

  • Nine members of Maryland’s delegation sent a Nov. 13 letter seeking details on Goddard building consolidations, potential capability losses, and any shutdown call-backs, with answers due Nov. 17.
  • NASA replied today to Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s Nov. 10 demand by asserting the consolidation stems from planning begun in 2017 and approved in 2019, with projected $10 million in annual savings and $64 million in avoided maintenance.
  • Agency leaders dispute reports of improper shutdown activity, with NASA’s press secretary saying claims are false and noting one building was padlocked for alleged looting, a characterization employees strongly contest.
  • The center’s union says 13 of 30 buildings containing about 100 laboratories are targeted for closure by 2026, describing accelerated moves that it argues risk harming projects such as the Roman Space Telescope and Dragonfly.
  • Science Committee staff say a propulsion lab in Building 11 being emptied supports Roman and Dragonfly, while NASA maintains the changes are aligned with mission managers to prevent cost or schedule hits.