“It’s a heist”: Senator calls out Texas for trying to steal shuttle from Smithsonian

A recent political initiative aimed at relocating the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian to Texas has sparked controversy. During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) openly criticized the effort, labeling it as nothing short of a theft. "This is not a transfer. It's a heist," he stated, expressing his discontent over Texas's push to claim a shuttle they believe should have been awarded to them over a decade ago. The proposal, spearheaded by Texas Republican Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, seeks to move Discovery from its current home at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia to Space Center Houston. The senators introduced the “Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act” in April, aiming to facilitate this move. They later incorporated a related provision into a broader Senate bill, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4. Expressing his support for the bill, Cornyn remarked, "I am glad to see this pass as part of the Senate's One Big Beautiful Bill and look forward to welcoming Discovery to Houston and righting this egregious wrong." He emphasized Houston's pivotal role in the nation’s human space exploration endeavors, arguing that it is time for Space City to receive appropriate recognition. However, Durbin raised significant concerns during the hearing, particularly regarding the financial implications of the move. He highlighted that Texas allocated $85 million for the shuttle's relocation, questioning whether this amount is sufficient to cover the costs associated with such a monumental task. "Eighty-five million dollars sounds like a lot of money, but it is not nearly what's necessary for this to be accomplished," he cautioned, leaving the future of the shuttle's relocation uncertain.