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.
Representative Doggett's lack of a space-related committee assignment and his primary legislative focus on tax, healthcare, and social policy through the Ways and Means and Budget Committees suggest that NASA science funding may not be a top priority. His recent emphasis on local, non-space community earmarks further indicates a focus on district-specific needs that might not directly align with broader NASA science initiatives, and the district's NASA science contracts are relatively modest.
However, there are strong opportunities for engagement. Doggett has a clear record of supporting Earth science research, securing federal appropriations for climate change studies at local universities, which directly aligns with NASA's Earth science objectives. Furthermore, institutions within his district, notably the University of Texas at Austin and Numfocus, Inc., receive substantial NASA Science Mission Directorate grants across multiple science disciplines, providing a tangible local connection to the benefits of space science investment. His general advocacy for taxpayer-funded research and openness to considering NASA for community project funding also indicate potential receptiveness to arguments against the proposed FY26 science cuts.
Support for Earth Science Research: Representative Doggett secured $2.48 million in federal appropriations for The Meadows Center at Texas State University in February 2023 to study climate change's impact on Texas water resources, and an additional $1.4 million for a University of Texas at Austin project in September 2023 to understand climate change impacts on local infrastructure, directly aligning with NASA's Earth science objectives.
Advocacy for Taxpayer-Funded Research: In September 2025, Representative Doggett highlighted the importance of essential taxpayer investments in research for societal benefits, indicating a general supportive stance toward scientific funding.
Local NASA Science Investments: Institutions within his district, including the University of Texas at Austin and Numfocus, Inc., have received significant NASA Science Mission Directorate grants for projects spanning Earth science (ICESAT-2 validation), astrophysics, planetary science, and heliophysics-related software development and research. (USAspending, FY2022-FY2024)
Openness to Direct NASA Funding: Representative Doggett's office lists "National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Safety, Security, and Mission Services" as an eligible account for Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Funding requests, indicating a willingness to consider directing federal funds to NASA activities.
Demonstrated Bipartisan Collaboration on Research: In June 2025, Representative Doggett led a bipartisan group of colleagues in urging the State Secretary to maintain funding for the Conflict Observatory at Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab, demonstrating a capacity for cross-party cooperation on research funding.
[1] npr.org
"Up First briefing: Doggett tells Biden to exit race; Starliner delay : NPR. July 3, 2024. Biden’s bad week gets worse. Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett is the first House Democrat to publicly call for him to withdraw his reelection bid. Plus, NASA says..." https://www.npr.org/2024/07/03/g-s1-7948/up-first-newsletter-lloyd-doggett-biden-debate-boeing-nasa-starliner-delay