NASA Administrator Mike Griffin Not Cooperating With President-Elect Obama's Transition Team

Photo: Orlando Sentinel, NASA Administrator Mike Griffin

It seems totally ridiculous that NASA administrator Mike Griffin has chosen to offend the Obama transition team rather than doing the professional thing and working with them. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Griffin is obstructing the team's efforts to get information and told Lori Garver, the team leader and a former NASA associate administrator, that she was "not qualified" to judge his rocket program. Ouch. Seems like he has something to hide.

In a heated 40-minute conversation last week with Lori Garver, a former NASA associate administrator who heads the space transition team, a red-faced Griffin demanded to speak directly to Obama, according to witnesses. In addition, Griffin is scripting NASA employees and civilian contractors on what they can tell the transition team and has warned aerospace executives not to criticize the agency’s moon program, sources said.

Griffin’s resistance is part of a no-holds-barred effort to preserve the Constellation program, the delayed and over-budget moon rocket that is his signature project. Chris Shank, NASA’s Chief of Strategic Communications, denied that Griffin is trying to keep information from the team, or that he is seeking a meeting with Obama. He also insisted that Griffin never argued with Garver. “We are working extremely well with the transition team,” he said. However, Shank acknowledged Griffin was concerned that the six-member team – all with space policy backgrounds – lack the engineering expertise to properly assess some of the information they have been given. Source: Orlando Sentinel

There needs to be some serious change at NASA. Obama needs to name a new administrator who will change the agency's policy. Mr. Griffin cannot think that Barack Obama is simply going to take his word on the rocket program. In light of the financial mess in this country, no going with any common sense is going to give any government agency a free pass to spend money as it pleases. There is, however, something very sinister afoot at NASA, especially where Griffin is concerned. He is a Bush appointee who was brought in to implement a plan to return astronauts to the moon by 2020 as a prelude to going to Mars. Why do I feel that way?

Griffin himself sent a memo urging employees “to answer questions promptly, openly and accurately.” At the same time, he made clear he expected NASA employees to stay on message. For example, transition-team interviews have been monitored by NASA officials “taking copious notes,” according to congressional and space-community sources. Employees who met with the team were told to tell their managers about the interview. Source: Orlando Sentinel

I guess tensions are high because the human space flight program is at a serious crossroads since the end of the Apollo era in the 1970s. You see, other superpowers are making inroads and we are flip flopping through a series of bad decisions. The space shuttle is set to be retired in 2010 and the next-generation Constellation rockets won't take off until 2015.

So, he wants to stay on under the Obama Administration, but seriously, does he have a chance? Especially in light of his "dictatorial" tactics? I wouldn't trust him one iota. He needs to be kicked out of office, along with the other Bush/Cheney cronies.

To read more of the Orlando Sentinel article, CLICK HERE....