KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other leaders said it makes sense to move NASA’s headquarters out of Washington D.C. and on to the Space Coast.

During a press conference about the Indian River Lagoon on Tuesday, DeSantis commented that instead of the U.S. space agency building a new building for its headquarters in Washington, D.C., it could be looking at the Sunshine State.

And he said NASA would not need to spend what he claimed was an estimated $500 million for a new building.

“And when they tell you it's going to be a half-a-billion, you know, it will probably end up being $1 billion," DeSantis said. "They're already making expansions, at Kennedy (Space Center). And you could basically use that existing footprint to move the NASA headquarters there. And you'd save the taxpayers half-a-billion, maybe even $1 billion.”

In November 2024, NASA issued a press release to announce that it was looking for a new location either within or around the D.C. area for its new home.

Its current headquarters is at 300 Hidden Figures Way SW, Washington, D.C. and the lease is set to expire in August 2028.

In the press release, the agency shared what it was looking for in a new home.

“Needs for a new headquarters includes approximately 375,000 to 525,000 square feet of office space to house NASA’s workforce. The desired location is within walking distance to a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority station. In addition, the new location also needs parking options, as well as convenient access to food establishments,” NASA stated.

However, DeSantis said that there is no need for NASA to build a new building at the nation’s capital.

“So, NASA should be and, like it should be, in the Space Coast ... It should not be in Washington, D.C. Spending that money is a waste to build a new headquarters there. I'm pretty sure DOGE is going to nix the headquarters. And then it's just a question of where the administration wants to move NASA headquarters,” he said. “But I think this is as good a place as any by far. If you look at all the stuff that's happening here, this is where most of the launches occur. This is where the history is. And it's really good. Now, in terms of the workforce, I would defer to the Congress folks and the administration on that.”

Florida is not the only state that is opening its doors to NASA, with Cleveland’s city council passing a resolution on Monday to urge the space agency to call Ohio home.

However, Rob long, chief executive of Space Florida, — the state’s aerospace economic development agency — said that it makes sense for NASA to come to the Sunshine State.

“You know, Florida does a great job, in the aerospace industry at large. And the representatives here are just great examples of that. Where do you expect things to go?” he said at the press conference on Tuesday, adding, “And you know, I think, we'll continue to make the case. And because it makes logical sense to do so and, looking forward to see what comes next.”

While not giving exact locations, Long said that somewhere in the Kennedy Space Center area could be a new home for NASA headquarters.

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody also chimed in at the press conference, saying Florida has always been home to NASA.

“I love what Florida is in so many ways, but few people realize we have set the bar for space achievements. And really, it started here. We should bring it home and NASA should be headquartered here and be home based here,” she said.

In a statement to Spectrum News, NASA stated, “The NASA Headquarters building lease is up in 2028, and the agency is looking at options to lease a different facility in the Washington, D.C. area. NASA does not have plans to build a new headquarters. In compliance with the Executive Order signed Jan. 20, NASA employees returned to full-time onsite work by Feb. 28.”