WASHINGTON, D. C. – When the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s lease on its current Washington, D.C. headquarters expires in 2028, Ohio lawmakers want NASA to relocate its headquarters to Ohio.
In a letter to Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump’s nominee for NASA Administrator, Jared Isaacman, Ohio Congress members argue that relocating the agency’s headquarters to their state would align with broader government efforts to decentralize federal agencies and revitalize areas outside of Washington.
“Ohio is the birthplace of aviation, the heart of America’s aerospace industry, and a critical hub for advanced technology, research, and manufacturing,” according to the letter signed by Republican U.S. Rep. Max Miller of Bay Village and U.S. Sen. Jon Husted of the Columbus area. “Placing NASA HQ in the ‘Heart of it All’ would reinforce our national leadership in space exploration and aeronautics innovation.”
Others who signed the letter include U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, as well as U.S. Representatives Troy Balderson, Mike Carey, Warren Davidson, Jim Jordan, Dave Joyce, Marcy Kaptur, Bob Latta, Michael Rulli, Dave Taylor, and Mike Turner.
Ohio is not the only state vying to host the next NASA headquarters. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis supports relocation to the Kennedy Space Center near Orlando, while Texas Gov. Greg Abbott would like to see it in his state.
The Ohioans argue that their state’s rich aerospace heritage, lower operational costs, and central role in the nation’s technology and defense sectors make it a better choice for the headquarters than other states.
They propose Cleveland’s NASA Glenn Research Center as a possible headquarters location, claiming that relocating there would “result in substantial savings for taxpayers while maintaining access to world-class aerospace research and development resources.”
Given that few NASA headquarters employees currently work in-office, the letter stated that consolidating operations near an existing NASA field center would streamline agency functions while maintaining access to critical infrastructure.
It stated that NASA Glenn and its Lewis Field site at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport provide extensive office space and redevelopment opportunities, making them ideal locations for NASA headquarters operations.
“Ohio is the historical home of aviation and ideally suited to lead NASA into the next frontier of both Aeronautics functions and Space Exploration as you lead this agency through its remarkable transformation,” the email continues.
Miller discussed the case for NASA Glenn in an opinion piece published last month. He stated that it provides everything NASA requires, “from world-class research facilities to a deep talent pool and a dramatically lower cost of operation.”
“NASA’s headquarters are located in a privately leased building, not a federal facility. With the lease expiring in 2028, the agency has a unique and critical opportunity to break free from D.C.’s high costs and bureaucratic stagnation,” Miller stated.
He stated that none of the other states vying for the NASA headquarters have the advantages Ohio does, which include “the perfect balance of deep aerospace roots, cutting-edge research facilities, a skilled workforce, and a cost-effective business climate.”
“Ohio isn’t just a practical choice; it’s a strategic imperative,” Miller stated. “The NASA Glenn Research Center and its Armstrong Test Facility are already at the forefront of next-generation aerospace and spaceflight technology.
Moving NASA headquarters here would result in an unrivaled research and development powerhouse, propelling breakthroughs that will shape the future of space exploration.”
