NASA chief Jim Bridenstine to resign under Biden administration

NASA chief Jim Bridenstine will step down once President-elect Joe Biden takes office, according to a report. Bridenstine believes NASA will have a better chance of political success with a new chief, AerospaceDaily reported on Sunday. The new leader would have “a close relationship with the [next] President of the United States, ”Bridenstine reportedly said.

“The correct question here is,” What is in the best interest of NASA as an agency, and what is in the best interest of the US exploration program? “” Bridenstine told AerospaceDaily. “You need someone who has the administration’s confidence … I don’t think I would be the right person for that in a new administration.”

Bridenstine, a former Republican congressman from Oklahoma, became a NASA administrator in April 2018. In Congress, he served on the Science, Space and Technology Committee.

NASA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.