Trump Announces His Pick for NASA Leadership Post

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday his nomination for chief financial officer of NASA.

Arizona Treasurer Jeff DeWit has been nominated to oversee the space agency’s finances, according to a statement from the White House.

DeWit, who was the chief operating officer of Trump’s presidential campaign, supported his presidential bid early in the Republican primary season.

If confirmed by the Senate, DeWit will be in charge of overseeing NASA’s $20 billion budget and all of the agency operations in regard to finances, The Arizona Republic reported.

DeWit, 44, was pleased to be chosen, though he noted that accepting the nomination was by no means an easy call.

“Since the conclusion of last year’s presidential election, there has been much speculation as to what my future was going to be, and my response has been and remains that I truly love Arizona and my current role as state treasurer,” he said in a statement.

“However, when the president of the United States asks you to serve your country, it is my duty to answer the call,” DeWit added.

Saying that he will remain Arizona’s treasurer for the time being, DeWit explained that his “deep love for the state of Arizona and the opportunity to keep serving the wonderful people here at home is something that constantly tugs at my heart.”

“This is definitely a tough decision,” he added.

In a statement of his own, NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot praised the nomination of DeWit.

“It is encouraging to see more members of the agency’s leadership team being named,” Lightfoot said. “Jeff’s solid financial background will be a tremendous addition as we continue to advance our nation’s aeronautic and exploration initiatives.”

DeWit had already announced he would not be running for re-election as state treasurer.

However, it had been rumored that he might run in 2018 for the Senate seat being vacated by Arizona Republican Jeff Flake, a fierce Trump critic who has said he will step down at the end of his term.

Though Trump has made cutting the budget a focal point of his administration, he has previously expressed his belief in the importance of NASA.

In March, he signed a $19.5 billion spending bill to fund the space agency, according to The Republic.

“America’s space program has been a blessing to our people and to the entire world,” Trump said, while calling America’s astronauts “heroic” and “amazing.’

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