Article snippet: Moon to Mars" webpage. The president's tweet on Friday is at odds with his own administration's focus on returning to the moon. Trump signed a directive in December 2017 that formally directed NASA to focus on returning humans to the moon. Less than a month ago, Trump said he was updating his budget proposal to include $1.6 billion for NASA to focus on space exploration. The president said in the May 13 tweet that the country is "going back to the Moon, then Mars." Vice President Pence, head of the White House's Space Council, announced in March that the Trump administration is committed to landing U.S. astronauts on the moon within the next five years. The vice president said the Trump administration had directed NASA to hit the five-year goal "by any means necessary." Space exploration has been an area of focus in the Trump administration. The president signed an executive order in July 2017 to revive the National Space Council after more than two decades. In addition to exploration, the administration has sought to develop a military component known as the Space Force. The Hill 1625 K Street, NW Suite 900 Washington DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 tel | 202-628-8503 fax The contents of this site are ©2019 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc. Link to the full article to read more