# 119-s-933: NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025 119-s-933, NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-933 - As of: 2026-09-10 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-s-933 - Congress: 119 - Title: NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025 - Status: in_committee - Introduced: 2025-03-11 - Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX) - Cosponsors: 6 - Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-09-10 ## Summary **Sustain U.S. leadership in space exploration** by funding NASA and locking in the Moon-to-Mars Artemis architecture while accelerating commercial partnerships and a managed transition from the ISS to commercial low-Earth orbit destinations. - Requires NASA to buy human-rated lunar landing services from not fewer than two U.S. commercial providers and creates a Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Development Program with milestones aiming for at least one commercial LEO destination capable of continuous presence by December 31, 2030. - Funds the Science Mission Directorate at $7.6 billion and tightens cost-cap and reporting rules, creates a Planetary Defense Coordination Office and a Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition Program, and orders a Mars Sample Return acquisition plan within 90 days. - Restructures the Space Grant program, caps administration at 10 percent and reserves 5 percent for innovation, establishes a public-private talent exchange and mentoring reforms for NASA personnel, and authorizes reimbursements to Chincoteague, Virginia for relocating drinking water wells on NASA land. *Authorizes $25.5 billion for NASA in FY2025 and the net budget effect will depend on subsequent appropriations and implementation.* ## Cosponsors (6) - Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] (D-WA), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] (R-KS), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (D-MI), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO] (R-MO), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - FY2025 NASA funding authorized: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would authorize about $25.5 billion for NASA for fiscal year 2025. The money would be divided across program accounts such as Exploration Systems ($7.65 billion) and Science ($7.58 billion). These are authorizations of appropriations and still need Congress to appropriate the f… - Lunar and Mars exploration push: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would push NASA to keep developing Artemis, the SLS and Orion, and U.S. human‑rated lunar landers bought only from U.S. companies when procured commercially. The bill would support commercial lunar payload deliveries and require planning for lunar communications and science, an… - Space workforce and Space Grant changes: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would reform the Space Grant program so each State, DC, and Puerto Rico gets equal annual awards, cap administration at 10%, and reserve 5% for innovation. NASA would also be allowed to run STEM engagement and skilled technical workforce activities with hands‑on exposure and mu… - Science, Earth data, and planetary defense: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would require a balanced science portfolio tied to decadal surveys and create a Planetary Defense Coordination Office to find and track near‑Earth objects 140 meters or larger and issue warnings. It would make the Office of Science and Technology Policy, with NASA, keep a polic… - Plan and protect ISS during transition: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would create a program to buy services from U.S. companies to keep a continuous U.S. crew in low‑Earth orbit. NASA must meet schedule milestones (requirements by April 30, 2025; final request by Sept 30, 2025; selections by March 31, 2026) and aim for a commercial station by De… - Local water well reimbursement (Chincoteague): benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would let NASA enter up to a 5‑year agreement to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague, VA for planning and relocating drinking water wells on NASA land. The agreement should cover the three remaining wells, identify relocation sites, and include current cost estimates. NASA must… - Launchsite fire and emergency review: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would require the Comptroller General (GAO) to report within one year on fire and emergency services at NASA launch and reentry facilities. The report must assess current and projected demand as launch activity increases and whether current NASA or commercial services can meet… - Procurement, oversight, and China limits: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would let agencies award follow‑on production contracts after competitive prototype projects without a new competition if the prototype was successful. It would require the Comptroller General to review early mission cost estimates within a year to improve cost discipline. The… ## Related bills - 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 - 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026 - 119-s-524: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 - 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas. - 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona. - 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina. ## Sources - [119-s-933 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/933) ## Related - [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071) - [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066) - [119-s-524: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-524) - [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913) - [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897) - [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-933 (as of 2026-09-10).