Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN-02)

Note: This analysis uses AI to help identify potential outreach strategies for space science issues. Because it uses AI, it is important to understand the sources and limitations of this analysis. Space-related committee assignments (if present), and additional sources (if present), are from congress.gov and a direct output of a targeted web search. Opportunities, challenges, overall summary, and preparation recommendations are products of AI analyses. The biography uses AI to summarize key aspects of the member's Wikipedia page. All AI-generated claims, assessments, and recommendations should be independently verified. This is an experimental feature, and intended to provide guidance and inspiration for outreach strategies for your meeting. Feedback is welcome: casey.dreier@planetary.org.

Overall Summary

Representative Burchett's strong fiscal conservative stance, advocating against increased federal spending and for shrinking government agencies, presents a significant challenge to securing his support for increased NASA science funding. His primary public engagement with NASA has also centered on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), potentially diverting focus from the broader scientific mission and expressing disappointment with NASA's current UAP efforts.

However, there are avenues for engagement. His district directly benefits from substantial NASA science grants, particularly to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, supporting planetary science and astrobiology research. This local investment, coupled with his vocal interest in UAPs and the search for life beyond Earth, could make him receptive to arguments for specific science programs that demonstrate clear local impact and align with his curiosity about unexplained phenomena, despite his general opposition to expanding federal budgets.

Preparation Recommendations

• Consider researching the specific faculty, students, and research outcomes from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's NASA science grants to articulate the direct local benefits in terms of jobs, education, and scientific advancement within his district.
• Explore how NASA's transparent scientific pursuit of understanding the universe, including astrobiology and planetary exploration, aligns with his interest in open inquiry into unexplained phenomena and the search for life beyond Earth.
• Look into how NASA science investments, including the contract with Pinnacle Machine Tools, Inc. in Knoxville, contribute to local economic development and technological innovation, demonstrating a tangible return on federal investment within his district.

About Tim Burchett

• Earned a Bachelor of Science in education from the University of Tennessee (1988).
• Served in the Tennessee House of Representatives, State Senate, and as Knox County Mayor.
• Expressed belief in government coverup of UFOs, recovered craft, and possible beings.
• Sponsored state legislation concerning roadkill consumption and a ban on Salvia divinorum.
• Maintains a hobby of building skateboards from bamboo.

Opportunities

• Local NASA Science Investment: Representative Burchett's district benefits directly from NASA Science Mission Directorate grants awarded to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, indicating a tangible local economic and research interest. The University of Tennessee received multiple NASA grants totaling over $2.7 million for planetary science and astrobiology research between FY2022 and FY2024. (USAspending, FY2022-FY2024)

• Interest in Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs): Representative Burchett has been a vocal proponent of congressional investigation and transparency regarding UAPs, including questioning NASA representatives on their UAP report, which demonstrates an interest in scientific inquiry into unexplained phenomena. This interest, often bipartisan, aligns with broader space-related exploration and the search for life beyond Earth, a component of NASA's science mission. (Newsweek, 2023-09-21; DefenseScoop, 2025-09-03)

• Support for Federal Grants with Local Impact: Despite a general stance against large federal spending, Representative Burchett actively supports federal grant applications and Community Project Funding requests that bring federal dollars to his district. This pragmatic approach suggests potential openness to supporting NASA science initiatives that demonstrate clear benefits and local connections within TN-02. (WBIR, 2024-03-27; House.gov, Appropriations Requests)

• Advocacy for Transparency in Government Research: Representative Burchett consistently advocates for transparency and accountability in federal spending and programs, including those related to UAPs, which could extend to supporting well-justified and transparent NASA science programs. This stance, while often critical of government operations, could be leveraged to highlight the value of open scientific research and its benefits. (NewsNation Prime, 2024-11-10; WBIR, 2025-03-06)

Challenges

• Competing Priority - UAP/UFO Focus: Representative Burchett's primary public engagement with NASA appears to be centered on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) and government transparency regarding UFOs, expressing disappointment with NASA's UAP report and suggesting a lack of knowledge from NASA representatives on the issue. This focus may divert attention or advocacy efforts from broader NASA science and exploration initiatives.
• Ideological Barriers to Government Spending: Representative Burchett explicitly states his commitment to "rein in Washington's out-of-control spending" and "shrink the size of alphabet agencies," regularly voting against "bloated spending bills and legislation that expands the size of the federal government." This general fiscal conservative stance could pose a challenge to advocating for increased NASA science funding.
• Lack of Direct Legislative Influence on Space Policy: Representative Burchett has no current space-related committee assignments in the 119th Congress, which limits his direct legislative platform to champion or influence NASA's science and exploration budgets.