Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), chairman of the House committee on science and technology, released an April 2 letter to President George W. Bush calling for the removal of Robert Cobb as inspector general of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Both Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.), chairman of the House investigations and oversight subcommittee, and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), chairman of the Senate subcommittee on space, aeronautics and related matters, signed the letter.
The action stemmed from a Congressional report finding that Cobb had abused his authority by creating a hostile work environment and creating the appearance of a lack of independence in his relationships with top NASA officials and in his review of his staff’s work.
Cobb “must be removed for the good of NASA and the nation,” the officials wrote in their letter. “The Record of Investigation demonstrated that the office environment has seriously deteriorated and is affecting the staff’s ability to conduct audits and investigations for fear of verbal abuse and ridicule.”
Gordon pledged that “if change for the better doesn’t come soon, the committee will take further steps to see that the NASA IG’s office is put back on the right track.”
