Trump nominates Oklahoma Congressman Jim Bridenstine to run NASA
President Donald Trump announced today that he intends to nominate Oklahoma Representative Jim Bridenstine as NASA’s next Administrator. If confirmed by by the Senate, he will replace acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot, who has run the agency since Trump took office in January.
In a statement, Lightfoot reaffirmed that Bridenstine needs senate confirmation, but that he looks forward to “ensuring a smooth transition and sharing the great work the NASA team is doing.” Bridenstine is a proponent of the commercial space industry, introducing the Space Renaissance Act earlier this year. He’s also been a vocal advocate for opening up the Moon for commercial activity and establishing a permanent settlement on its surface.
Trump’s pick is...