A group made up of nineteen Democratic lawmakers has formally requested an internal audit of the American space agency’s operations. The demand, forwarded to Escritório of Inspetor-General in November, focuses on the recent measures to deactivate and transfer equipment in Centro of Voos Espaciais Goddard, located in Maryland. The administrative actions occurred simultaneously with the period of suspension of federal government activities, raising suspicions about the compliance with the protocols adopted by management and the possible violation of budgetary guidelines.
Parliamentary pressure and risks to missions
Led by deputy Zoe Lofgren, members of Comitê of Ciência, Espaço and Tecnologia of Entre concerns cited in the letter are the development of the Nancy Grace Roman space telescope and the Dragonfly probe mission, designed to explore the moon Titã. The space agency, on the other hand, maintains that the measures are part of a resource optimization strategy designed for the long term, aiming for fiscal efficiency.
The request for an investigation comes after a previous attempt at dialogue, in which Lofgren called for the immediate suspension of relocations. The administration’s response, sent in mid-November, defended the consolidations as necessary. The current document requires the inspector general to evaluate who authorized the closures, analyze the financial motivations behind the decisions and verify whether there was real alignment with the institution’s master plan, in addition to checking compliance with the rules for managing public assets.
Budgetary impact and physical restructuring
The ongoing restructuring plan involves the decommissioning of thirteen buildings on the Goddard main campus by March 2026, a process that has been significantly accelerated in recent months. The center’s management claims that such initiatives are essential to avoid maintenance costs estimated at 64 million dollars, in addition to projecting recurring annual savings of 10 million dollars by reducing the occupied area. However, the fiscal scenario presents severe challenges, with budget proposals indicating cuts of up to 25% in general funds and drastic reductions in scientific programs.
Lawmakers point out that the original master plan called for gradual changes over two decades, rather than the abrupt implementation seen recently. The Maryland congressional delegation also sent specific questions about the impacts of these changes on future technical capabilities, especially in relation to Observatório of
Concerns about sensitive equipment
Internal reports indicate that employees were given tight deadlines to pack high-precision items, including components for propulsion laboratories and clean rooms, essential for validating scientific missions. The vacating of Edifício 11, a crucial structure for propulsion testing, exemplifies the operational risks involved, as the absence of immediate replacement facilities could lead to additional costs and significant delays in the Roman telescope schedule.
In addition to material risks, there were reports of work overload during the government shutdown period. The mobilization of civilians for logistical packaging tasks was identified as a possible violation of budget restrictions in force during the shutdown. Sindicatos of engineers and scientists warned that the proposed cuts and disorganization could result in the reduction of almost half of the center’s scientific technical staff, dissipating accumulated knowledge.
Questions about the legality of the actions
The core of the request to the supervisory body lies in verifying the legality of transactions carried out without due approval from Congresso. A previous report by Senado had already suggested that implementing budget cuts before final approval of the federal budget could be unconstitutional. Diante of the agency’s response, which classified the actions as routine procedures, the committee insists on the need for an independent audit to ensure transparency, protect the national scientific heritage and ensure that vital equipment, such as that of the DAVINCI mission to Vênus, is preserved.
