There are easily hundreds of experts on our space program and on the national and economic security threats posed to our nation via the People’s Republic of China. And yet, it is a totally unexpected, often controversial voice that might finally break through the disinterest, ignorance and special-interest clutter to finally point out the growing danger of China forcefully dominating the “final frontier.”
Over the course of the last decade or so, I have acted as a rhetorical “Paul Revere,” riding across the information countryside desperately trying to warn of the largest national and economic security threat to the U.S.: the military-controlled space program of China establishing itself on the Moon. Even though I worked on space-related issues for the Pentagon, for NASA, for the Space Shuttle team and in the private sector, most of my warnings have fallen on deaf ears.
Laura Loomer’s warnings, however, may reach the only ears that matter — those of President Trump.
To be sure, many people do consider the far-right activist to be a “controversial” voice. That acknowledged, it does not mean she can’t be correct in her assessments much or even most of the time.
While I don’t see eye to eye with her on every subject, I do happen to believe that Loomer is an incredibly courageous person who, quite disgustingly, has to deal with very real death threats simply because she dares to exercise her constitutionally protected right to express her personal opinions.
People may pretend otherwise, but Loomer does have the president’s ear. How often her messages reach him or are acted upon is purely conjecture, but with regard to NASA and the now pending naming of Jared Isaacman as the next administrator, one could make an educated guess that Loomer’s words did reach the Oval Office.
In November, Mark Whittington penned an excellent op-ed titled, “Isaacman and Duffy are playing a ‘Game of Thrones’ for control of NASA.” Folded within the piece was a mention of Loomer doing some heavy-duty lobbying for Isaacman. She was correct to do so, as Isaacman will make an exceptional administrator who will push Trump’s agenda above all.
Isaacman was first named for the position back in December of 2024, then nominated shorty after Trump’s inauguration. Then, in the midst of the dust-up with Elon Musk in May, his name was withdrawn. Then, just over a month ago, Trump renominated him. He was just voted out of the Senate Commerce Committee and is now a lock to become the next NASA administrator. Loomer has consistently warned against China’s preeminence in space; did she help to get that nomination back on track?
China is taking dead aim at the moon for both military and economic advantage. The communist country is laser-focused on the energy independence-giving helium-3 isotope that litters the surface of the moon, which could provide a potentially limitless supply of safe, clean, green energy for decades to come.
Helium 3 could prove to be the game-changer that reshapes the futures of China and the U.S. Although many people may not be familiar with this “miracle” isotope, I can assure you the military leaders who run China’s space program realize its potential and are doing all in their power to beat us to it.
As just headlined on Space.com last week: “The U.S. must beat China to moon, Trump pick for NASA chief Jared Isaacman tells Senate: ‘If we make a mistake, we may never catch up.’”
With her multiple posts pushing Isaacman, did Loomer help to convince the president to renominate Isaacman? I hope so. Now she just needs to push the “U.S. must beat China back to the moon” theme a bit harder. For if we don’t, “preeminence” on both the earth and the moon could be lost.
Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official.
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