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FLORIDA - Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) is pushing for a major shift in U.S. space operations by introducing a bill that would move NASA’s headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Florida’s Space Coast.
The legislation, known as the CAPE Canaveral Act (Consolidating Aerospace Programs Efficiently), is co-sponsored by fellow Florida Senator Rick Scott and aims to position the agency’s central operations closer to the country’s most active space launch facilities.
The proposed relocation is rooted in concerns over government inefficiency and underutilization of federal office space.
A report from the Public Buildings Reform Board found that NASA’s 545,731-square-foot headquarters in Washington, D.C., was only 15% occupied throughout 2023.
With the lease set to expire in August 2028, Moody argues that maintaining an oversized, largely empty facility in the nation’s capital is a waste of taxpayer dollars.
Senator Moody contends that Florida, already home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, is the natural choice for the agency’s leadership hub.
“Florida leads the way in space exploration and aerospace advancements. Moving NASA’s headquarters to the Space Coast will help streamline decision-making, strengthen public-private partnerships, and tap into the incredible talent within our state,” Moody stated in a press release.
She also emphasized the importance of maximizing taxpayer resources, stating, “We need to ensure that any new headquarters is fully utilized—not sitting empty like the one in Washington has been for years.”
Moody’s proposal aligns with a broader shift of space-related infrastructure toward Florida.
The U.S. Space Force is currently transferring its STARCOM headquarters to Patrick Space Force Base, just south of Cape Canaveral.
Additionally, SpaceX recently confirmed plans to launch its next-generation Starship rockets from Kennedy Space Center by the end of the year, with a $1.8 billion investment in infrastructure that is projected to create 600 new full-time jobs by 2030.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has also thrown his support behind the idea, first raising the possibility of relocating NASA’s headquarters during a press event at Kennedy Space Center.
Despite mounting political support, NASA has not yet announced any plans to move its headquarters.