Keith’s note: There will be a Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Hearing: “Strategic Trajectories: Assessing China’s Space Rise and the Risks to U.S. Leadership” Thursday, 4 Dec at 9:00 AM EST. Watch live here, Here is the charter. One tweet from the committee said “China’s rapid progress in space is a serious concern for the U.S.—threatening our leadership, national security, and economic future. Tomorrow, we will examine this challenge and what America must do to stay ahead.” OK, so enough arm waving. If you want NASA to effectively compete with China in space then don’t endorse NASA budget cuts and deep personnel cuts in FY 2026 as put forth by the Administration. All this rhetoric is just hot air. Do something. Or just sit down. Just sayin’.

Keith’s note: Testimony from Jared Isaacman at his confirmation hearing on 3 December 2025: “Thank you Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, and distinguished members of the committee. I am honored and grateful to be here before you again as President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.” More below.

Keith’s note: NASA Public Affairs has issued a bunch of pre-re-nomination reviews regarding Jared Isaacman to be come NASA administrator. Read the glowing words of support below.

Keith’s note: on Wednesday 3 Dec the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a nomination hearing for Jared Isaacman (NASA) and Steven Haines (Commerce) at 10:00 am EST. It will be live streamed on the committee website and on YouTube. Meanwhile, NASA TV does not seem to have it listed. According to Marcia Smith “Sen. Cruz has already announced the Commerce committee will vote on Isaacman’s nomination next Monday, Dec. 8, at 5:30 pm ET, along with seven others. … Senate vote can be anytime thereafter.” There is talk of trying to fast track this vote so we could see Isaacman on the 9th floor in a week or so.

Keith’s note: House Science Committee Democrats just issued this press release that includes a letter and detailed spreadsheet listing GSFC changes to personnel, programs, and facilities in excruciating detail – and requests NASA feedback. My quick take: It would seem that no one is doing any real work at GSFC until next spring since everything is moving, being sold off, rebuilt, closed down. Other centers have similar albeit more localized changes like this but all of the actions have not hit them yet. So NASA will have lost staff, lose budget (programs, missions etc.) one way or another, and everyone is moving their offices or waiting for people to get to their new locations before resuming work. ‘Time for a new NASA phone book’ as we’d say at NASA. Full text and links below.

Keith’s note: This press release came out from Senator John Cornyn about a meeting with Jared Isaacman and then goes into a litany of complaints about retired space shuttle destinations: “Mr. Isaacman committed to follow Sen. Cornyn’s provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, now law, to move the Space Shuttle Discovery in one piece from Virginia to its rightful home in Space City.” OK – a summary:

1. The bill never says “Space Shuttle Discovery” and you could meet the requirement in the bill with a Mercury, Gemini, or Apollo capsule. Or a commercial vehicle. Or a Soyuz in Washington, DC.
2. Moving a spacecraft “in one piece” – well if it is a shuttle either they will have to recreate the 747 carrier aircraft ($$$$) or do major highway modifications in northern Virgina ($$$$). In other words vastly more money will be needed than has been called for to date.
3. If the money is not found and or the infrastructure is unavailable then Discovery will not be moving. So you can support the unlikely move but not lose the orbiter at the same time.
4. Congress could get more descriptive and add money but at a time when dozens of missions are being cancelled that is going to be problematical.
5. Nice summary here at Transfer of a Space Vehicle: Issues for Congress online at Congress.gov
6. And of course you should check out the folks at KeepTheShuttle.

Keith’s note: Last week a large group of former NASA astronauts sent a letter to Senators Cruz and Cantwell in support of Jared Isaacman’s nomination to be NASA Administrator. His (re)nomination hearing will be held on Wednesday. Letter below.

Keith’s note: A press release from Representatives Chu, Bacon et al urges “Strong Final FY26 Appropriations for Space Science and Exploration.” Full text and letter below.

Keith’s note: According to this press release Science Committee Democrats Request Inspector General Audit of Goddard Closures and Relocations: “Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Science Committee Democratic Members sent a letter to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) requesting a formal audit of the agency’s recent actions regarding widespread closures and relocations at the Goddard Space Flight Center including its main campus in Greenbelt, Maryland”. More below

Keith’s note: There is some chatter in DC that scheduling the re-nomination hearing in the Senate for Jared Isaacman on 3 December may mean that he misses a batch of nominations that are expected to come to a vote soon. So we may not see a vote happen for a while – perhaps even early next year. Meanwhile – remember Matt Anderson? He was nominated to be Deputy NASA Administrator in May. No one has said much – if anything – about his confirmation process.