The Mission is Clear: Return to the moon, go on to Mars – and do it fast, first & right
By Cong. Brian Babin
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, I published an op-ed in The Washington Times making the case that America’s return to the moon is not just about exploration, it’s about protecting our national security, strengthening our economy, and ensuring America, not China, sets the rules for the future beyond Earth.
President Trump recognized this from the start. Early in his first term, he signed the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017 and Space Policy Directive-1, directing NASA to return to the moon as the first step toward human missions to Mars and beyond.
These actions reignited America’s vision for space exploration and reaffirmed our leadership in the final frontier.Today, the Artemis program—backed by Congress and funded through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—remains the cornerstone of our Moon to Mars strategy. The moon offers critical resources like water ice and minerals, serves as a vital proving ground for new technologies, and represents the ultimate high ground in the new space race.
If China plants their flag first, they will set the rules for the moon and beyond, a scenario we cannot allow.
America must stay the course, avoid costly delays, and ensure NASA has the resources and direction needed to get the job done.
The mission is clear: return to the moon, go on to Mars, and do it fast, first, and right.
- Read my full op-ed HERE.
For decades, Democrats have run our nation’s capital into the ground, turning it into one of the most dangerous cities in the world, with a homicide rate higher than many capitals in so-called “third world” countries. Washington, D.C., should be a beacon of safety and pride for all Americans, not a cautionary tale.
President Trump is taking action. On Monday, he will announce a bold plan to crack down on violent crime and restore law and order in our capital. With strong leadership, we can make D.C. one of the safest cities in America again.
Chairman Brian Babin represents the people of Texas’ 36th Congressional District in Congress, where he serves as Chairman of the House Science, Space & Technology Committee – a committee he has served on since joining Congress. Before seeking public office, Cong. Babin served as an airborne artilleryman in the U.S. Army Reserve and the Texas Army National Guard.
