Brian Hughes was named the de facto Director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center by the White House, according to a May 11 announcement. Hughes previously led Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign in Florida and served as NASA’s Chief of Staff from May to December 2025. His appointment comes despite his lack of experience in space launch systems.
The decision has drawn criticism from Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren, who said, “I am deeply concerned that Brian Hughes, a political hack that has a proven record of harming the agency, has been named the de facto Director of Kennedy Space Center at such a critical time of global consequence for NASA and our leadership in space exploration. It is unconscionable that the White House would bring him back and frustrating that NASA did not bother notifying the Committee in advance of this decision.”
Lofgren further said, “We are not going to beat China to the Moon by putting a political operative in charge of launching our astronauts into space. Brian Hughes does not possess the background, knowledge, expertise, or temperament to hold a position of such immense responsibility. The leader of Kennedy Space Center, who also has been granted responsibility for Wallops launch operations, must be beyond reproach in both character and competence. It is no place for a former Trump campaign consultant who personally directed the agency’s illegal implementation of the White House budget last year, as the Committee’s oversight recently detailed. This decision is inexcusable. NASA must reverse it immediately.”
Lofgren represents California’s 18th district and has served in Congress since replacing Don Edwards in 1995; she previously served on Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors from 1981 to 1994 according to U.S. House Representative Zoe Lofgren. She was born in San Mateo in 1947 and lives in San Jose according to U.S. House Representative Zoe Lofgren. Lofgren graduated from Stanford University with a BA degree before earning her JD from Santa Clara University according to U.S. House Representative Zoe Lofgren.
The announcement comes at what Lofgren described as “a critical time” for NASA’s role on global space leadership.
