Donalds unveils legislation to move NASA headquarters to Florida's Space Coast

Florida gubernatorial candidate and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) is set to introduce legislation in the House proposing that NASA headquarters be moved from Washington, D.C. to Florida. 

The legislation’s co-sponsors include a bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers, including Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Fla.), Scott Franklin (R-Fla.), Mara Salazar (R-Fla.), Daniel Webster (R-Fla.), Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), John Rutherford (R-Fla.), Cory Mills (R-Fla.), and Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.). 

The bill, titled Consolidating Aerospace Programs Efficiently at Canaveral Act, is the House version of a Senate bill that was introduced by Florida Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Ashley Moody (R-Fla.). 

The bill proposes moving NASA headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast in Brevard County within one year of enactment. The space coast is home to Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. 

The Hill was the first outlet to report on the House version of the legislation. 

Proponents of moving NASA to Florida point to the existing aerospace infrastructure along the Space Coast. They also note that Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Spaceforce Stations are primary launch sites for NASA and that having headquarters close by would streamline operations. Florida’s proximity to the equator also makes it a prime location for launches. 

The effort from Florida lawmakers comes as the lease on NASA Headquarters in Washington is set to expire in August of 2028. However, lawmakers from the Sunshine State are not the only ones pushing to relocate NASA to their home state. 

Last month, a group of Ohio lawmakers sent a letter to Vice President JD Vance, who is from Ohio, and President Trump’s pick to lead NASA Jared Isaacman, advocating to move the agency’s headquarters to Cleveland. 

The letter was signed by Ohio GOP Reps. Max Miller, Troy Balderson, Mike Carey, Warren Davidson, Jim Jordan, Dave Joyce, Bob Latta, Michael Rulli, Dave Taylor and Mike Turner as well as Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur. Ohio Sens. Bernie Moreno (R) and Jon Husted (R) also signed the letter.