Senators accuse Smithsonian of 'illegal lobbying' over Discovery squabbles
- Reference: 1761223834
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/10/23/discovery_doj_lobbying_letter_cornyn/
- Source link:
This is a silly attempt to silence the Smithsonian from publicly defending their full and permanent 'right, title and interest' of Discovery...
A letter, sent by US Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14) has [1]asked for an investigation into possible violations of the Anti-Lobbying Act by Smithsonian Institution staff in connection with attempts to derail the passage and implementation of the Space Shuttle provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
What's the Space Shuttle provision, you ask? The [2]act talks about a "space vehicle" that has flown into space and carried astronauts. This doesn't necessarily mean Space Shuttle Discovery. However, both sides of the argument certainly believe it does.
Earlier this month, the war of words over the possible relocation of the vehicle intensified, with NASA and the Smithsonian [3]estimating that a move to Houston would cost between $120 million and $150 million (excluding the cost of housing the orbiter) and require dismantling Discovery for transport. A spokesperson for Senator Cornyn's office later [4]told The Register the total cost was more likely to be in the region of $5 million to $8 million.
Yesterday, the lawmakers said: "the Institution has circulated cost estimates that exceed quotes from experienced private-sector logistics firms by more than tenfold and has falsely claimed the shuttle's wings would need to be removed for transport, a claim not supported by industry experts.
[5]
"These activities raise significant concerns under the Anti-Lobbying Act, which prohibits the use of appropriated funds for communications intended to influence members of the public to pressure Congress regarding legislation or appropriations matters."
[6]
[7]
Joe Stief, a healthcare investor and creator of the KeepTheShuttle movement, said, "This is a silly attempt to silence the Smithsonian from publicly defending their full and permanent 'right, title and interest' of Discovery."
Stief noted that the claim about the need to dismantle the Discovery and the cost of relocation, estimated to be between $120 million and $150 million, was not solely of the Smithsonian's making. US space agency NASA was involved, too. Both, he said, are "organizations who designed, flew, transported and now preserve the shuttle."
[8]Space Shuttle war of words takes off as senator blasts 'woke Smithsonian'
[9]Texas senators cry foul over Smithsonian's pricey Space Shuttle shuffle
[10]US House Appropriations Committee saves NASA budget, Prez holds the veto pen
[11]NASA won't name the Shuttle picked to move to Texas
Stief has a point. NASA and the Smithsonian are very familiar with the orbiter.
The details behind the lower quotes and how Discovery would be kept intact have yet to be published. However, a [12]report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) included a preliminary estimate from "a private company with experience of moving large vehicles," which came to $8 million for transporting the orbiter by ground and barge. The report also notes, "Any of these costs might change as the details of the move are clarified."
[13]
Although the OBBBA authorizes the funds for the relocation, the US government is currently shut down. US citizens will no doubt be delighted their representatives have found the time to squabble over a long-retired spacecraft rather than deal with other issues. ®
Get our [14]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-cruz-weber-call-for-doj-investigation-into-smithsonian-institutions-illegal-lobbying-against-space-shuttle-discoverys-move/
[2] https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/02/dismantling_discovery/
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/09/cornyn_smithsonian_shuttle_comments/
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aPpRFKnkjdKtgQOODnRu_QAAAUA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aPpRFKnkjdKtgQOODnRu_QAAAUA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aPpRFKnkjdKtgQOODnRu_QAAAUA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/09/cornyn_smithsonian_shuttle_comments/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/08/senators_smithsonian_discovery/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/12/nasa_science_gets_a_boost/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/10/nasa_wont_name_the_shuttle/
[12] https://www.crs.gov/Reports/IF13071
[13] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aPpRFKnkjdKtgQOODnRu_QAAAUA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[14] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Cornyn and Cruz exemplify all the rotten aspects of the USA, and have no redeeming features. That people actively vote for them not reflect well on the USA in general.
If you bought the 'wrong' bag of sugar, these idiots would find some 'fault'.
That people actively vote for them not reflect well on the USA in general.
Yes. Tejanos!
Other issues? Ballroom
US citizens will no doubt be delighted their representatives have found the time to squabble over a long-retired spacecraft rather than deal with other issues.
Oh, but they are talking about other important issues. See, for example:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/23/trump-white-house-ballroom-reaction
"Trump moved ahead with construction despite a lack of sign-off from the National Capital Planning Commission, the executive branch agency that has jurisdiction over construction and major renovations to government buildings in the region."
Judging by the image of the proposed interior, my guess is that Trump is envious of the interior of Putin's Kremlin and all the pomp of his long walks with soldiers opening enormous doors for him as he attends gatherings of the faithful to tell them how wonderful Russia is. Trump is on a deadline, he has to get it finished in 3 years so that he can do the walk from the Oval Office to the Ballroom to address his acolytes on camera before his (legal) term or his ability to walk, expires. Imagine how he would feel if the first actual president to use his big beautiful ballroom was a Democrat?
Re: Other issues? Ballroom
My guess is that Trump will leave behind him a ruined shuttle and a ruined East Wing as the visible metaphors for everything else.
Re: Other issues? Ballroom
Perhaps they could move the shuttle into the ballroom?
Re: Other issues? Ballroom
@Eclectic Man
"Imagine how he would feel if the first actual president to use his big beautiful ballroom was a Democrat?"
Probably pretty good. While it has made children's heads explode he is pretty much showing them how to get things done. This addition is privately funded instead of fleecing taxpayers and as hard as bureaucracy try to tie him up he is still getting on with the job. Whoever uses it in future will have Trump to thank for putting it there. If a president tries to mess with it they will look petty and people will look at who is paying.
I have noticed this ballroom thing has drawn comparisons with Obama's 'Vogon' inspired presidential library.
Re: Other issues? Ballroom
@codejunky
On this one, I have to give credit to the British. Admiral Cockburn initiated a rethinking of the White House with a lot less hullabaloo.
Re: Other issues? Ballroom
1814 was a vintage year for the British in Washington.
Re: Other issues? Ballroom
Ah yes, the not trump defending codejunky has arrived as usual...
Re: Other issues? Ballroom
"While it has made children's heads explode he is pretty much showing them how to get things done. "
Madame, ixnay on the mention of children and President Trump. The Epstein situation is still looming and his most ardent supporters are not best pleased with the current state of affairs. Do not provoke them.
Re: Other issues? Ballroom
Who says anyone will use it after the next Democrat becomes President? I can imagine pulling it down will be one of their priorities. There is no reason why replanting the Rose Garden and rebuilding the East Wing shouldn't be paid for by the same big businesss that are supposedly paying for the ballroom.
Re: Other issues? Ballroom
Does anyone have good photos of the groundworks?
I've been trying to figure out how they are going to operate the magnets under the dance floor, so that a group of the faithful can drag Donald around by his hobnails to mimic a waltz.
Re: Other issues? Ballroom
No need, he's got the double jerk dance down pat. All you have to do is play YMCA.
Re: Other issues? Ballroom
They won't use Trump's hobnails:
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2024/04/how-did-you-get-that-frog-to-float/
They'll just use all of the electricity east of the Rocky Mountains for electromagnetic levitation using the diamagnetic* effect. After all it doesn't actually cost $250 million just to build a ballroom - most of that is for the underfloor superconducting electromagnets.
*Like most animals, Trump is mostly water, and is therefore repulsed by a magnetic field. As is his favourite metal, gold.
(https://magnetstore.co.uk/magnetic-materials/is-gold-magnetic/?srsltid=AfmBOoo4hyXNtbKy9iUuvkYDhG0dwurHEYmYyTIpqJHos2hXqzA12kAj)
Both sides need to put up or shut up - it's public money, so publish your respective quotes for all to see, and let's see who's the biggest bullshitter - we all know the real cost will be somewhere between the two, and whether the move even proceeds or not will come down to ownership arguments and whether the US Government has any legal right to force the Smithsonian to give Discovery up - that will ultimately be decided in court anyway. Popcorn at the ready...
> so publish your respective quotes for all to see
To do that, they'll probably end up paying the private contractors and consultants more than the $85m just to produce a complete and accurate quote:
>> "Any of these costs might change as the details of the move are clarified."
"We can get through here without removing the wings from the body; but we are going to cut off the nose and thrusters, then slice the body in half horizontally. That allows it to move along this three mile section. Then it gets tricky.."
Well look at the bright side, Trump has vast experience in not paying contractors so that might save a lot of money he can then pocket.
Houston already has three, count 'em, three, space vehicles that have carried people to orbit and back. They're all on loan from the Smithsonian, since NASA signs title over to SI when they're surplussed. There are Mercury 9, which carried Gordon Cooper; Gemini V, Gordon Cooper and Pete Conrad, and Apollo 17, crewed by Gene Cernan, Ronald Evans and Jack Schmitt.
Since Discovery is 122 ft. long, 58 ft. high and 78 ft. wide, and there are no rivers wide and deep enough to get a barge (which could carry it) to the Udvar-Hazy Center, the real problem is how to get it to somewhere it could be barged (through open ocean, at that) to Houston without demolishing several bridges on major highways. Either that, or creating a new Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to fly it out.
The solution is simple - let the Texas Senators build the proposed new building without blowing away their budget, and reveal how they're going to magically bypass all the bridges between IAD and Space Center Houston and still preserve Discovery's integrity.
Fill it with helium and float it in as a balloon on a piece of string?
Get the guy from Macy's parade department to help.
Or just get him to make a full size replica, float that to Houston and leave it tied up. Would the Texan senator even know the difference?
Re: Fill it with helium
I proposed [1]something like that last time.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Akron
[Senators accuse Smithsonian of 'illegal lobbying' ]
Don't be a silly willy, in the US all the lobbying is legal otherwise you silly senators would all be in jail.
It's interesting that they accuse another entity of "illegal lobbying" whilst their administration violates the Hatch Act, amongst other crimes.
Just when I thought I'd run out of reasons not to take the USA seriously.