The final decision of NASA Administrator Charles Bolden to award four Space Shuttles to four different museums garnered the expected reaction from members of Congress, especially those who saw their cities passed over by the space agency.

But most lawmakers are expressing their disappointment - except in Ohio, where the decision to bypass the bid of the city of Dayton has been met with the threat of an investigation by a group of lawmakers led by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

Brown and four other Ohio lawmakers sent a letter Tuesday to the top Congressional investigator, Gene Dodaro, who heads the Government Accountability Office, asking the GAO to probe the selection process.

Here is that letter:

April 12, 2011

The Honorable Gene Dodaro

U.S. Government Accountability Office

441 G Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20548

Dear Mr. Dodaro:

We are writing to request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) undertake a review of the policies and practices of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) and the Smithsonian’s disposition of the shuttle program related property.

The National Aeronautics and Space Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law No: 111-267) reiterated Congressional support for the existing NASA disposal plan. Section 603 of the Act states, “The orbiter vehicles shall be made available and located for display and maintenance through a competitive procedure established pursuant to the disposition plan developed under section 613(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008.”

The law regarding disposal of excess government property is clear, and NASA’s disposition plan for the shuttle clearly affirms that NASA will follow it. NASA is bound to follow existing federal property disposal laws, including the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act. That law indicates that if the Space Shuttle Orbiters are declared surplus to NASA’s needs, they need to be offered to other Federal agencies (including the Defense Department) before they can be offered to any organization outside the federal government.

While answering questions before the Senate and House Appropriations Commerce, Science, and Justice and Related Agencies Subcommittees, NASA Administrator Bolden stated that the decision on shuttle disposition was his alone based on the process he and his predecessors laid out – including a ten point selection criteria analyzed by a “team” within the organization.   Any such GAO review should disclose the 10 criteria, the members of the team, and how the final decision was determined. 

Specifically, we ask that GAO review how the disposition of the shuttle program related property carried out, and if NASA and the Smithsonian did so in accordance with all statutory and regulatory guidelines. 

Thank you for your attention to this request.

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown                                                Michael R. Turner

United States Senator                                      Member of Congress

Steve Austria                                                   Marcy Kaptur

Member of Congress                                       Member of Congress