The Texas Senators have launched an all-out crusade to break the acquisition of space to pieces and move it to its state. This appeal of fame has been seen in the national air of Smith Soulon and the Space Museum in Washington, DC, for more than a decade, and the center is not giving it up without a fight.
As this saga unfolded a few months ago, the Smithsonian warned Congress that breaking the discovery would not only be very expensive but would also risk destroying its historical value. Now, the Sexas Senators have called the Department of Justice to investigate the “illegal” illegal action against Shittle.
“This is a foolish attempt to silence the public from the public and the eternal subject, and the eternal subject of the ‘Smithwossian discovery,'” said Joe Chied John Roberts, “said Joe Chied John Roberts, John Roberts,
“While the chancellor did not publicly respond after the August statement, it appears that Seture Cornyn is hoping to find a receptive audience at the Justice Department,” Gizmodo told Gizmodo in a statement.
How did we get here?
In April, Texas Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced a bill to “bring affordable housing to Texas.” That bill was eventually incorporated into the “One Good Payroll” Act, signed into law on July 4.
The move was met with opposition from the Smithsonian, museum supporters, and democrats. In September, senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-IL), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee 206 Repeal or efforts to move the Space Shuttle.
The Smithsonian followed, sending its letter to the committee saying that it and NASA believe that the discovery of migration could cost $ 150 million and could lead to incalculable damage to the shuttle. That cost would far exceed the $85 million allocated for shuttle relocation in the bill.
“I’m not surprised that Labor supporters are frustrated to see these facts revealed in Congress and in the public,” Khe said. Tax. “But instead of giving any details of some kind of discovery submission, they continue to write to ‘industry experts’ who disagree with NASA and Smithsonian – they are scheduled, and now they are finally submitting.”
Entering Tricky Legal Terrain
In a letter sent to the DOJ on Wednesday, Senators Cornyn and Cruz and Congressman Randy Weber actually said that “industry experts” do not support the Shithsonian’s claim that they received the cut. They are also concerned about the cost estimate of the center for the shuttle migration, saying that “it is more than 10 times higher than the quotations from the entry firms in the private sector.”
The letter suggests that the Smithsonian may be in violation of anti-advertising laws. This Federal law prohibits the use of appropriated federal funds – without authorization from Congress – to influence members of Congress or other government officials on legislation.
The Smithsonian has always maintained that it has active Discovery since it transferred “all right, title, interest, and ownership” to any government agency. Cornyn, Cruz, and Weber point to this, arguing that the Smithsonian is essentially a federal enterprise funded largely by Congress and bound by federal law.
This argument positions the Smithsonian as an “instrument of trust,” a public trust recognized by Congress but distinct from federal agencies. This allows the Smithsonian to operate independently. In addition, the legal basis states that artifacts donated to the institution are not the property of the organization but the property of the Smithsonian.
It’s unclear whether the DOJ will formally investigate the Smithsonian, and regardless of the current government shutdown, Discood’s Fatel hangs in the balance. The proposed 2026 appropriations bill includes Competitive Provisions that could force or stop the Shuttle. We’ll just have to wait and see.
