The Senate voted along party lines to confirm President Donald Trump’s selection to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
April 19 (UPI) — The Senate voted along party lines to confirm President Donald Trump ‘s selection to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Senators voted 50-49 to approve Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R- Okla., as NASA’s new administrator following a six-month confirmation process.
Bridenstine, a former Navy pilot who previously led the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium and has represented Tulsa since 2013, initially faced opposition from some senators who believe he doesn’t possess the necessary scientific experience to head the agency.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., initially opposed the idea of hiring a politician to lead NASA instead of a scientist, but ultimately voted in favor of his confirmation.
« I was not enthused about the nomination, » Rubio said. « Nothing personal about Mr. Bridenstine. NASA is an organization that needs to be led by a space professional. »
Democrats also expressed concerns about his lack of experience as well as past statements opposing LGBT rights and doubting the impact human contributions have on climate change.
« James Bridenstine is a climate denier with no scientific background who has made a career out of ignoring science, » Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said. « Now, I also don’t have a scientific background. But I defer to scientists. I rely on the scientific consensus. And the scientific consensus is not what Mr. Bridenstine says. »
Sen. Jeff Flake, R- Ariz., held up a procedural vote Wednesday to advance Bridenstine’s confirmation by siding with Democrats in voting to block his confirmation before ultimately switching his vote to yes.
