By Monique Cala University Of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service
Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) questioned NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Thursday over what appeared to be a lack of respect shown towards the agency's employees following the release of NASA's budget request for fiscal year 2011.
“There was a statement made by a very senior political appointee in NASA's front office, Mr. Alan Ladwig. He said: 'For those who fuss over President Obama’s Budget for NASA I have two words ‘Bite Me,’" said Olson. “Thats one hell of a message to send to thousands of loyal NASA employees and contractors who have given their life to human space flight.”
Bolden responded to Ladwig's alleged comments, and reassured the committee that Ladwig’s statement was not the message NASA intended to send to its employers or the United States. Bolden told the committee he would look into the claim and take care of what he described as as an 'unacceptable' action.
Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) challenged the speed at which NASA employees were informed of the new budget.
“Many Folks in your own agency do not appear to have known what was in the budget request until the very weekend before it was released,” said Gordon. “In addition, it has taken almost a month for Congress to get the NASA budget justification documents, a state of affairs that is not -and should not be- an acceptable way of doing business with regard to such an important national endeavor.”
Bolden apologized for the delay between communication efforts and acknowledged recognizable concern as NASA takes a ‘historic shift.'
“NASA’s exploration efforts will focus not just on our moon, but also on near earth astroids, strategic deep space zones and the planet Mars and it’s moons,” he said.
A full copy of the proposed FY2011 Budget for NASA can be found on the NASA website.
Treatment Of NASA Employees: A Space Travesty?
Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) questioned NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Thursday over what appeared to be a lack of respect shown towards the agency's employees following the release of NASA's budget request for fiscal year 2011.
“There was a statement made by a very senior political appointee in NASA's front office, Mr. Alan Ladwig. He said: 'For those who fuss over President Obama’s Budget for NASA I have two words ‘Bite Me,’" said Olson. “Thats one hell of a message to send to thousands of loyal NASA employees and contractors who have given their life to human space flight.”
Bolden responded to Ladwig's alleged comments, and reassured the committee that Ladwig’s statement was not the message NASA intended to send to its employers or the United States. Bolden told the committee he would look into the claim and take care of what he described as as an 'unacceptable' action.
Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) challenged the speed at which NASA employees were informed of the new budget.
“Many Folks in your own agency do not appear to have known what was in the budget request until the very weekend before it was released,” said Gordon. “In addition, it has taken almost a month for Congress to get the NASA budget justification documents, a state of affairs that is not -and should not be- an acceptable way of doing business with regard to such an important national endeavor.”
Bolden apologized for the delay between communication efforts and acknowledged recognizable concern as NASA takes a ‘historic shift.'
“NASA’s exploration efforts will focus not just on our moon, but also on near earth astroids, strategic deep space zones and the planet Mars and it’s moons,” he said.
A full copy of the proposed FY2011 Budget for NASA can be found on the NASA website.