Kamala Harris' NASA Fiasco: Political Calculation or Dereliction of Duty?

A conservative watchdog group is suing NASA for documents related to the extended stay of two U.S. astronauts on the International Space Station, alleging that Vice President Kamala Harris, who chairs the National Space Council, may have prioritized politics over the astronauts' safety.

The Oversight Project, a conservative watchdog group, has filed a lawsuit against the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) seeking documents pertaining to the prolonged stay of two American astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS). Mike Howell, executive director of the Oversight Project, alleges that Vice President Kamala Harris, who serves as chair of the National Space Council, may have been involved in a political calculation that resulted in the decision to keep the astronauts in space for several additional months.

According to the lawsuit, the Oversight Project is seeking emails between NASA political appointees and the White House, including Harris' office, as well as outgoing emails to Harris' presidential campaign. Howell claims that the National Space Council (NSpC), under Harris' leadership, may have chosen politics over the safety of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams.

Kamala Harris' NASA Fiasco: Political Calculation or Dereliction of Duty?

"It looks like to me and other experts that Kamala Harris, the space czar, chose politics over our astronauts," Howell said. "This is a massive scandal that the mainstream media seems not to care about."

The NSpC was previously reorganized under former President George H.W. Bush and disbanded and reestablished under former President Donald Trump. The Oversight Project's filing seeks correspondence from NASA chief of staff Bale Dalton III, Associate Administrator James Free, and five other senior officials, as well as communications between NASA and Boeing, the manufacturer of the Starliner capsule that transported Wilmore and Williams to the ISS.

Kamala Harris' NASA Fiasco: Political Calculation or Dereliction of Duty?

The NSpC chair holds substantial advisory authority over NASA's decision-making, according to a source close to the matter. In an August press briefing, a NASA official acknowledged a "disagreement in terms of the level of risk" between the agency and Boeing after the capsule experienced propulsion issues. Despite the setbacks, Boeing officials expressed confidence in the Starliner's ability to return the astronauts safely.

However, Howell raised concerns about the political appointments made by Harris to NASA, citing their lack of relevant experience in space exploration. He also shared a copy of a document outlining the strategic objectives of NASA's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Strategic Plan. Howell suggested that Harris' prioritization of DEIA may have compromised national security, as other nations like China are closely monitoring such "signs of weakness."

Kamala Harris' NASA Fiasco: Political Calculation or Dereliction of Duty?

Despite the extended stay, the astronauts have remained positive. Williams stated, "I love being in space. This is my happy place." Wilmore, while missing his daughter's final year of high school, has requested an absentee ballot to vote from orbit.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Harris' office and the Harris campaign for comment but has not received a response. NASA, in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, stated that Harris and NSpC staff received frequent updates on the Starliner Crewed Flight Test but did not make operational spaceflight safety recommendations or decisions.

Kamala Harris' NASA Fiasco: Political Calculation or Dereliction of Duty?

The Associated Press contributed to this report.