Politics · United States · 1 hr ago
Senate committee to vote on NASA finance and watchdog nominees
The Senate Commerce Committee will vote on two NASA nominees on Nov.
18.
Joshua Shoemaker is nominated to be the agency’s chief financial officer, and Robert Steinau is nominated to be its inspector general.
The committee held a hearing on Nov.
10, where senators asked the NASA nominees few questions.
NASA has had no Senate-confirmed chief financial officer since January 2025 and no Senate-confirmed inspector general since late 2023.
Shoemaker said he would focus on financial accountability and clearer reporting, while Steinau identified the moon program, the shift to commercial space stations and cybersecurity as key oversight challenges.
If the committee approves the nominees, their nominations will go to the full Senate for confirmation votes.
The Senate Commerce Committee plans to vote on nominations for NASA chief financial officer and inspector general on Nov. 18.
The nominees are Joshua Shoemaker for chief financial officer and Robert Steinau for inspector general.
The committee held a hearing on the nominations on Nov. 10.
If approved by the committee, the nominations will go to the full Senate for confirmation votes.
NASA has been without Senate-confirmed officials in both roles.
- Who
- The nominees are Joshua Shoemaker and Robert Steinau.
- What
- The Senate Commerce Committee plans to vote on their nominations for NASA chief financial officer and inspector general.
- When
- The committee vote is scheduled for Nov. 18, after a hearing on Nov. 10.
- Where
- The Senate Commerce Committee in Washington.
- Why
- The committee is considering the nominations; the nominees would fill NASA posts that require Senate confirmation.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on nominations including those of Joshua Shoemaker and Robert Steinau.
The committee announced it would meet on Nov. 18 to vote on the nominees.
The committee is scheduled to vote on the nominations and, if approved, send them to the full Senate.
- Chief financial officer nominee
- Joshua Shoemaker
- Inspector general nominee
- Robert Steinau
- Hearing date
- Nov. 10
- Committee vote date
- Nov. 18
- CFO vacancy
- NASA has had no Senate-confirmed chief financial officer since January 2025
- Inspector general vacancy
- NASA has had no Senate-confirmed inspector general since late 2023
What people are saying
I believe the CFO has an important responsibility to give the administrator, NASA leadership and Congress an honest and timely picture of the agency’s financial position
NASA is moving with urgency, and it is imperative that accountability keep pace with ambition