Congress Pushes Back Against Major NASA Budget Cuts
▼ Summary
– The House passed a $24.8 billion NASA budget bill, matching the Senate’s $24.9 billion proposal, rejecting the White House’s proposed 25% cut.
– Both bills maintain NASA’s funding at current levels, providing relief after the Trump administration sought severe reductions.
– The House budget allocates $6 billion more than the White House proposal, while the Senate keeps science funding at $7.3 billion, higher than the House’s $6 billion.
– Advocates view flat funding as a win despite inflation, as Congress opposes the White House’s deep cuts to NASA science programs.
– NASA has prepared to cancel missions under the proposed cuts, sparking urgency for Congress to finalize a budget to prevent disruptions.
Congress has taken decisive action to protect NASA’s budget, rejecting deep cuts proposed by the White House and signaling strong bipartisan support for the space agency’s mission. Both the House and Senate have advanced spending bills that would maintain funding close to current levels, a stark contrast to the administration’s request for a 25% reduction.
The House Appropriations Committee approved a $24.8 billion budget for NASA, matching this year’s allocation and exceeding the White House proposal by $6 billion. Meanwhile, the Senate’s version stands at $24.9 billion, with key science programs receiving stable funding. While these figures represent no real increase when adjusted for inflation, they provide much-needed stability compared to the drastic cuts initially feared.
Science programs remain a priority despite differences between the House and Senate bills. The Senate maintains NASA’s science division at $7.3 billion, while the House reduces it to $6 billion, still far above the $3.9 billion suggested in the administration’s plan. Advocacy groups like the Planetary Society have praised lawmakers for resisting what they call “unprecedented and wasteful” reductions that could have jeopardized critical research and exploration efforts.
Behind the scenes, concerns linger over potential mission cancellations. NASA has reportedly instructed teams to prepare shutdown plans for programs targeted in the White House budget, raising fears that some projects could be axed before Congress finalizes spending. Scientists and industry leaders are urging swift action to prevent disruptions, emphasizing that delays could derail years of progress in space exploration and technology development.
While the final budget still requires negotiation between the House and Senate, the current proposals demonstrate a clear congressional commitment to preserving NASA’s role as a global leader in space science and innovation. The coming weeks will determine whether lawmakers can secure long-term stability or if short-term political battles will leave key initiatives in limbo.
(Source: Ars Technica)
