Congress and NASA — Grok via NASAWatch.com
Keith’s note: this letter was sent by Acting NASA GSFC Director Cynthia Simmons and NASA SMD AA Nicola Fox to Rep. Zoe Lofgren regarding Lofgren’s letter to NASA (House Demands Answers Over Goddard Changes) over concerns about actions being taken at NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center. . Full letter below.
November 2025
Thank you for your letter and interest in the vital work of the Goddard Space Flight Center. Since NASA’s inception, Goddard has pioneered much of the technology that enables exploration, America’s thriving space industry, and world changing science missions.
Your assertion that Goddard is being shut down or dismantled, however, could not be further from the truth. As you are no doubt aware, NASA has operated under continuing resolutions (CRs) for much of the past two fiscal years. These CRs, combined with rising operations and maintenance costs over a prolonged period have forced NASA to implement efforts to ensure the center’s long-term viability through more efficiently utilizing available space and consolidating or reconstituting facilities. Efforts to reduce operations and maintenance costs started at other Goddard campuses over five years ago, and discussions and specific planning for consolidation efforts at the Greenbelt campus began in June 2023.
This ongoing work will make Goddard better positioned to lead the development, integration, and testing of NASA Science flight missions, and will reduce approximately $10 million a year in the center’s annual operating costs while also avoiding approximately $64 million in deferred maintenance costs. This work is being carefully coordinated with the mission project managers of the critical missions currently in development to avoid impacting schedule and/or increasing costs. In many cases, waiting to reconfigure laboratories or technical workspaces would unnecessarily delay program work and increase mission cost.
All these efforts are in alignment with NASA Science Mission Directorate leadership and are designed to position Goddard for the future and protect ongoing missions, many of which are in pursuit of key decadal priorities and Congressional direction. Thank you again for your interest in this effort and I look forward to continuing to work with you to advance American leadership in space. Sincerely,
Cynthia W. Simmons
Director (Acting)
Goddard Space Flight Center
Nicola J. Fox, Ph.D.
Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate