NASA Has A New Acting CFO Who Is Not Political. That May Change.

NASA Administrator Announces Senior Leadership Updates
“NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has announced updates in senior leadership positions at Headquarters in Washington, including Stephen Shinn becoming acting Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Melanie Saunders, who has served as acting Chief Financial Officer since February 2020, will return to her position as NASA Deputy Associate Administrator. She has held that position since 2018. Cathy Mangum, who has been the acting Deputy Associate Administrator while Saunders was acting CFO, will continue to lead the agency’s COVID-19 response and other agency priorities.”
“I appreciate Melanie and Cathy stepping up and taking on these critical positions, especially during this unprecedented year with the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Administrator Bridenstine. “And I’m confident in Steve’s leadership while we await Senate confirmation of the President’s NASA CFO nominee.”
– Former NASA CFO Jeff DeWit Joins Trump Campaign As COO, earlier post
– Eric Trump’s Brother-In-Law Is The New Deputy NASA Chief Of Staff. Seriously., earlier post
– NASA Has A CFO Nominee, earlier post
“Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key position in his Administration: Dr. Greg Autry, of California, to be Chief Financial Officer, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. … Dr. Autry previously served on the NASA Agency Review Team and as the White House Liaison at NASA.”
Keith’s note: Autry’s nomination is listed on the executive calendar as of 29 July 2020 – #2150 – but it has not been referred to any committee yet. It is unlikely that this nomination will be taken up by the Senate before the election. If Trump loses it will never see the light of day.
The NASA CFO’s job used to be about the agency’s financial matters and nothing else. In the past 4 years it has become a way for White House political influence to be maintained at NASA via a different channel. Of course presidential son Eric Trump’s brother-in-law Kyle Yunaska is NASA’s Deputy Chief of Staff – so there are multiple direct channels from the Trump Administration into NASA HQ. Oh yes, former CFO Jeff DeWit is the COO of the President’s re-election campaign.