Congress Warns NASA: Artemis Plan Faces Scrutiny, Accountability Demanded
WASHINGTON D.C. – A panel of space policy experts warned Congress today that NASA’s current Artemis program is unsustainable and requires notable overhaul, with calls for stricter accountability for delays and cost overruns. The warnings came during a hearing focused on the future of U.S. space exploration.
Former NASA Administrator Scott Griffin delivered a stark assessment, advocating for a complete reset of the Artemis program beyond the planned Artemis III mission. “The Artemis III mission and those beyond should be canceled and we should start over, proceeding with all purposeful speed,” Griffin stated, sharing a link to his proposed choice architecture – a plan reminiscent of his earlier “Apollo on Steroids” concept, which was previously deemed unaffordable within NASA’s existing budget (link to plan, Apollo on Steroids reference).
Other panelists offered broader recommendations. Clayton Swope, Deputy Director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, emphasized NASA’s role in driving U.S. innovation and national security, highlighting the success of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program in fostering a growing lunar industry.He stressed the importance of continued NASA investment in basic research and growth as a key advantage over China. ”Without science, we would never have had something like the Manhattan Project,” Swope said.
However, a central theme of the hearing was the need for greater accountability. Dean Cheng of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies argued that both NASA and Congress must enforce consequences for failing to meet objectives.
“One, it needs to be bipartisan, to make vrey clear throughout our system that this is something that everyone is pushing for,” Cheng explained. “And two, that there are consequences, budgetary, legal, and or else, to the agency, to supplying companies. If thay fail to deliver on time and on budget, that it will not be a ‘Well, okay, let’s try again next year.’ There need to be consequences.”
The call for accountability stems from a pattern of significant delays and budget overruns plaguing major NASA exploration programs over the past 15 years, including the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System rocket, and associated ground systems. These programs have largely been funded through cost-plus contracts, limiting NASA’s ability to enforce deadlines. Congress has historically approved continued funding despite these setbacks.
The panel’s warnings signal growing frustration with the current trajectory of the Artemis program and a demand for a more disciplined and results-oriented approach to U.S. space exploration.
