Rep. Donalds Introduces CAPE Canaveral Act to Move NASA Headquarters to Florida
The CAPE Canaveral Act is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was recently sent to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for review. The bill is actively moving as it waits for the committee to discuss and vote on it.
While the bill has bipartisan support from Florida lawmakers, moving a major federal agency out of the capital usually faces strong opposition from other members of Congress.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C. employs roughly 2,500 workers who would face the choice of relocating to Brevard County, Florida, or leaving the agency. Uprooting families, selling homes, and adjusting to a new area within a one-year window is a major disruption. Some employees with deep ties to the D.C. area may choose to leave rather than move, potentially causing a loss of institutional knowledge.
“the headquarters of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall be transferred to Brevard County, Florida.”
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Republican Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody unveiled the Consolidating Aerospace Programs Efficiently at Canaveral (CAPE Canaveral) Act. The legislation seeks to move the U.S. space agency's central operations to the Space Coast to streamline industry partnerships and reduce overhead costs.
A bipartisan group of 24 Florida lawmakers signed a letter to the President supporting the CAPE Canaveral Act. The letter highlights Florida's 93 rocket launches in 2024 and its workforce of 140,000 aerospace workers as primary reasons for the relocation.
The CAPE Canaveral Act is described as a 'bold bid' to slash government waste. Senator Moody criticized the current D.C. headquarters for being filled to only 15% capacity and argued that Florida's 'Space Coast' is the natural home for the agency's leadership.
No votes recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
CAPE Canaveral Act
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