President Donald Trump's choice to lead NASA barely passed through the Senate on Wednesday, only avoiding a tie thanks to Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., changing his vote.
The Senate voted 50-48 to allow Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R-Okla., to head up NASA after the initial vote resulted in a 49-49 tie, with Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., missing the vote. Without Vice President Mike Pence, currently in Florida, the vote was deadlocked. Flake, who seemed to surprise Republican lawmakers when he voted no, switched his vote after 30 minutes.
"I've met with him, and I've been lobbied both for and against him," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told The Hill. "People are raising some concerns that I'm looking further into."
Democrats have criticized Bridenstine for his skepticism regarding climate change, his lack of a scientific background, and his work as a vocal surrogate for Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in his 2016 presidential campaign.
"NASA is one of the few remaining areas that has largely avoided the bitter partisanship that has invaded far too many areas of government and our society today, until now," Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., a former astronaut and the ranking Democrat on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, said on the Senate floor before the vote Wednesday.
"The unexpected April 30 retirement of the acting administrator would leave NASA . . . with a gaping leadership void unless we confirm a new administrator – because of this, I decided to support the nomination of Rep. Bridenstine," Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said in a statement, explaining why he would vote for the congressman after previously saying a "politician" should not lead the agency.
"I expect him to lead NASA in a non-political way and to treat Florida fairly," Rubio added.
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