Texas politicians warn Smithsonian it must not lobby to retain its space shuttle

Lawmakers from Texas are intensifying their efforts regarding the relocation of a retired space shuttle to Houston, following NASA's endorsement. Senator John Cornyn and Representative Randy Weber have initiated a call for an inquiry into the Smithsonian Institution's alleged resistance to the move of Space Shuttle Discovery, which it has owned for over a decade. In a letter addressed to John Roberts, the chancellor of the Smithsonian and the Chief Justice of the United States, the Texas politicians expressed concerns that the museum's staff may have breached legal boundaries in attempting to thwart legislation supporting the shuttle's transfer. They noted reports indicating that the Smithsonian has actively opposed the passage of the relevant provision, including reaching out to Senate Appropriations and Rules Committees to voice their dissent. Moreover, Cornyn and Weber accused the Smithsonian of collaborating with media outlets to cultivate public opposition against the shuttle's relocation. Earlier this year, the two lawmakers put forth identical bills in both the Senate and House to facilitate the transfer of the Discovery from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Virginia to Space Center Houston, located at NASA's Johnson Space Center. On July 4, generic language aimed at accomplishing this goal was integrated into the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." Recently, acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy confirmed a selection for the space shuttle to be moved, though he did not disclose which one. Cornyn later stated that Duffy had approved the transfer to Houston, but neither has confirmed which of NASA's three remaining shuttles would make the journey. For context, Endeavour belongs to the California Science Center, while Atlantis is currently displayed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Smithsonian maintains that it has retained "all rights, title, interest, and ownership" of Discovery since 2012.