The Senate on Thursday voted along party lines to confirm Republican Rep. Jim Bridenstine
James (Jim) Frederick BridenstineBill Nye promotes infrastructure, social spending bills with Biden NASA can facilitate the commercial space station race SpaceX all-civilian crew returns to Earth, successfully completing 3-day mission MORE (Okla.), President Trump
Donald Trump29 percent of GOP support efforts to charge accused Jan. 6 rioters: poll Trump warns Alaska GOP governor he'll revoke endorsement if he backs Murkowski Michigan Republican John James 'strongly considering' House run MORE’s choice to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The 50-49 vote came after months of Democratic attempts to stop Bridenstine's confirmation and a day after a procedural vote that nearly failed.
The vote came after a dramatic nearly hourlong vote period on the Senate floor. Sen. Jeff Flake
Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeCruz to get Nord Stream 2 vote as part of deal on Biden nominees Democrats threaten to play hardball over Cruz's blockade Rubio vows to slow-walk Biden's China, Spain ambassador nominees MORE (R-Ariz.) cast the final "yes" vote after holding out for about 15 minutes longer than his fellow Senators.
Flake was seen speaking to Senate leaders and their staff, including Majority Whip John Cornyn
John CornynUkraine president, US lawmakers huddle amid tensions with Russia GOP steps up flirtation with Manchin McConnell says he thinks Manchin 'would be more comfortable' in GOP MORE (R-Texas). It wasn’t immediately clear why Flake waited so long.
He similarly withheld his vote Wednesday on a procedural motion to move forward on Bridenstine’s confirmation. Cornyn said at the time that Flake wanted more time to meet with CIA Director Mike Pompeo
Mike PompeoChina replaces Xinjang Communist Party chief who oversaw persecution of Uyghurs: report Sunday show preview: Omicron surges, and Harris sits for extensive interview Sunday shows preview: Officials, experts respond to omicron; Biden administration raises alarms about Russia, China MORE, Trump’s nominee for secretary of State, before the Senate moved forward on that nomination.
All Republicans voted to confirm and all Democrats and independents voted against.
Bridenstine, who has represented Tulsa, Okla., since 2013, is a former Navy pilot, and previously led the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium.
He’ll be responsible for a 17,000-person agency whose far-reaching duties include space exploration, overseeing commercial space activities, studying aeronautics and researching the Earth’s atmosphere, among other tasks.
While Republicans hailed Bridenstine as a top-notch candidate to lead NASA, Democrats argued that he was unqualified for the high-profile scientific spot and too divisive of a politician. They also argued that his views, such as doubting climate change science and opposition to LGBT rights, ought to disqualify him.
A key vote for Bridenstine came from Sen. Marco Rubio
Marco Antonio RubioThe 10 races that will decide the Senate majority Biden signs bill punishing China for Uyghur abuses Equilibrium/Sustainability — New life blossoms in Antarctic ice shelf MORE (R-Fla.).
Rubio, whose state hosts NASA’s primary space launch facility, had bemoaned the nomination of a “politician” to lead the agency instead of a scientist.
Bridenstine notably spoke in advertisements for Sen. Ted Cruz
Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzGOP steps up flirtation with Manchin Cruz bullish on his 2024 chances: 'The runner-up is almost always the next nominee' Does anyone like Congress anymore? MORE’s (R-Texas) 2016 presidential campaign, frequently criticizing Rubio as weak on security and immigration.
Rubio said earlier Thursday that though he still had misgivings about Bridenstine, the impending retirement of acting NASA Director Robert Lightfoot meant the organization needs a leader.
“I was not enthused about the nomination,” he said on the Senate floor. “Nothing personal about Mr. Bridenstine. NASA is an organization that needs to be led by a space professional.”
Lightfoot’s departure, Rubio said, “leaves us with the prospect of this incredible agency with a vacancy in its top job.”
Rubio’s GOP colleagues had no reservations about supporting Bridenstine.
“Claiming our rightful place in the stars will require an effort spanning many years and several presidential administrations,” Sen. Mike Lee
Michael (Mike) Shumway LeeJuan Williams: The GOP is an anti-America party Manchin faces pressure from Gillibrand, other colleagues on paid family leave Key House chairman wants to lead official trip to Taiwan in January MORE (R-Utah) said. “We can begin that undertaking today by confirming a leader with a remarkable record of service to our country, a vision for the American space program that is big, not small, and a genuine faith in his country that is as boundless as the heavens. That man is Jim Bridenstine.”
Democrats argued that Bridenstine is the wrong man for the job.
“Jim Bridenstine, the nominee that we are considering, served as a Navy pilot, and I thank him for his service. But that does not qualify him to run NASA,” said Sen. Brian Schatz
Brian Emanuel SchatzBiden, lawmakers mourn Harry Reid Biden is delivering the fastest economic recovery in history. Why hasn't anyone noticed? Congress should reject H.R. 1619's dangerous anywhere, any place casino precedent MORE (D-Hawaii).
“Just because you know how to fly a plane does not mean that you have the skills and experience to lead the federal government's space agency,” he continued.
“James Bridenstine is a climate denier with no scientific background who has made a career out of ignoring science,” Schatz said.
NASA is one of the leading federal agencies responsible for studying climate change, including tracking temperature changes throughout history.
“I am deeply concerned about this nomination because it is further evidence of a much deeper problem. I am concerned this administration does not respect science, especially science in government institutions,” said Sen. Gary Peters
Gary PetersMichigan Republican John James 'strongly considering' House run Officials point to Apache vulnerability in urging passage of cyber incident reporting bill US concerns grow over potential Russian cyber targeting of Ukraine amid troop buildup MORE (D-Mich.). “NASA’s science and research needs a champion who understands and promotes the nuances of work being done by their team. In short, NASA needs an administrator who will be driven by science and not politics.”
The vote was also notable for the final vote cast.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth
Ladda (Tammy) Tammy DuckworthWe must learn from the Afghanistan experience — starting with the withdrawal As democracy withers, Bob Dole and other American soldiers must be remembered Overnight Defense & National Security — Austin mandates vaccine for Guardsmen MORE (D-Ill.) briefly returned from her maternity leave, with her baby in her arms, to cast a vote against Bridenstine. Senators applauded her when she came in, and a handful crowded around her to see the child.
Duckworth gave birth to her daughter, Maile, on April 9, becoming the first woman to give birth to a baby while in the Senate.
The Senate passed a resolution Wednesday evening to allow her to bring her baby onto the floor during votes.
