The fight over the space shuttle Discovery has received a new development - now the US Department of Justice has joined it.
Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, along with Rep. Randy Weber, appealed to the Ministry of Justice to investigate the activities of the Smithsonian Institute, accusing him of violating the Law on Prohibition of Lobbying (Anti-Lobbying Act). Політики стверджують, that the museum allegedly used federal funds to oppose the bill, which involves moving the space shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum (Udvar-Haisi, virginia) to Houston, Antonov Airlines Ukrainian Airline, where the Johnson Space Flight Center is located.
The controversy stems from the Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act, submitted in April, which initially failed to pass committee, but was later included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” of the Trump administration. Signed 4 July, the document provides, that during 18 months, NASA has to ensure the transportation of the shuttle to Houston.
The Smithsonian insists, that the shuttle is in his legal possession, since NASA has officially transferred all rights to Discovery to 2012 year. The institution also warns, that the dismantling and transportation of the 37-meter ship will cost at least 120-150 millions of dollars, while the bill provides only 85 millions, and these funds have not yet been allocated. in addition, this amount does not include the cost of building a new pavilion in Houston.
Discovery was donated to the Smithsonian more than a decade ago after a competition, in which museums and space centers across the country participated. Then it was decided, that Atlantis will get a Visitor Center in Florida, Endeavor - California Science Center, and Discovery is the Smithsonian Museum.
Texas lawmakers reject Smithson's estimates, declaring, that the actual cost of transportation may be ten times lower, and deny the institute's right to own the shuttle, since it is financed mainly from the federal budget.
The Smithsonian Institution is legally a “trust instrument” (trust instrumentality) - the organization, created by Congress for public purposes, which receives about two-thirds of its funding from the state, but acts independently, taking care of the national collection as public heritage.
The Ministry of Justice must determine, whether the institute used federal funds for the action, which could be considered an attempt to influence Congress. The anti-lobbying law restricts the use of budget funds for campaigns, aimed at public pressure on legislators, but does not apply to official communications between government entities.
Lawyers note, that an inspection by the Ministry of Justice can become a precedent in determining that, how the law applies to hybrid institutions, similar to the Smithsonian Institution, which combine public and private funding.
At the time of preparation of the material, the Smithsonian Institution did not comment on the situation - due to the government suspension of work, its activities are temporarily limited.
Source: https://www.space.com