Move NASA to Florida, where it belongs

The time has come to move NASA’s headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Florida — the heart of America’s space program. 

With its deep legacy of success and recognizing the advantages of having decision makers closer to the center of America’s operational space program, Florida is the logical home for NASA’s headquarters. The business community stands ready to welcome the agency and bolster America’s role as the world’s space leader. 

As the federal government looks to drive cost-saving efficiencies, the Sunshine State makes logical and fiscally responsible sense for NASA headquarters. Taxpayers will benefit from the space administration leveraging Florida’s strong aerospace sector, extensive infrastructure, highly skilled talent pipeline, lower operating costs, and favorable business environment.

Today, Florida has more than 700 companies and 140,000 skilled workers in the aerospace industry. It is the home to some of NASA’s most critical assets and the location for the most rocket launches globally. 

With years of experience supporting NASA and the commercial space sector, engineers, scientists and technicians in Florida are some of the most qualified in the world. This concentration of talent would make it easier for NASA to recruit top-tier professionals to support its headquarters operations and advance critical space missions.  

The economic case is just as compelling. Florida already supports more than 2,100 NASA federal jobs and nearly 20,000 contractors. But the true impact is far greater: For every NASA federal job in Florida, an additional 16.8 jobs are supported across the state. And for every $1 million in output generated by those jobs, an additional $6 million in economic activity is created. 

In short, bringing NASA headquarters to Florida doesn’t just move leadership closer to operations — it multiplies value for the nation.

Florida has a long legacy of strong government, education and private industry support for NASA. 

The Florida Council of 100, which dates back to 1961, the year before NASA began operations at what is now known as the Kennedy Space Center, is comprised of leading CEOs from across the state and has consistently supported aerospace growth from its inception. The space industry has helped bolster the state’s economic success, enhanced Florida’s higher education system and driven innovation and entrepreneurial ventures. 

More than 125 CEOs from the Florida Council of 100 signed a letter of support for the relocation of NASA’s headquarters to Florida. These business leaders understand the benefits that additional aerospace investment holds for the state.

The Beyond Sunshine report, commissioned by The Florida Council of 100, which I chair, last year identified aerospace as one of the best bets to increase high-wage industry growth and meaningfully add to the state’s gross domestic product, already the 16th largest in the world. 

With the growing presence of private companies like Blue Origin, Boeing and SpaceX, as well as leading academic research institutions, Florida has solidified its position as the key player in the modern space race. Having NASA headquarters in Florida would further encourage collaboration between the government and private companies, no doubt leading to advancements in space technology, human spaceflight and interplanetary exploration. 

Florida is already home to millions of space enthusiasts and tourists who flock to Cape Canaveral to witness rocket launches and learn about the agency’s work. By placing its headquarters in Florida, NASA could increase public engagement, providing a stronger connection between the agency’s leadership and the people it serves. 

The state’s history of space-related tourism offers a unique opportunity for public outreach and education, especially for the younger generation who will be the next wave of engineers, inventors, scientists, business leaders, and astronauts. 

We believe this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to position NASA for an even brighter future, by making a sensible move that will save taxpayers money, drive business growth and build upon a state that has a proven, long legacy of helping advance space achievements. Florida is ready now. 

Rest assured, our business community is prepared to work even more closely with NASA and government leaders to help write the next chapter of American space leadership.

Thankfully, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize Florida is the smart choice for NASA’s headquarters.

George LeMieux is a former Republican U.S. senator from Florida and chair of the Florida Council of 100.