The US government’s proposal to slash NASA’s research and science budget has sparked concern among lawmakers, who warn of a major blow to the country’s space exploration ambitions. The plan, which would reduce funding from $7 billion to just under $4 billion this fiscal year, has been met with fierce opposition from Maryland lawmakers.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) fears that the cuts will drive top talent away, as he notes that countries like China are investing heavily in space exploration initiatives. “We will lose engineers and others to China,” he said. The Goddard Space Flight Center, where the $3 billion Nancy Grace Roman telescope is set to launch, is expected to bear the brunt of the cuts.
Congressmen Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Glenn Ivey (D-MD) joined Van Hollen in touring the center, emphasizing the impact of the proposed cuts on local businesses that rely on NASA funding. “There’s a lot of businesses that do work directly connected to NASA,” said Ivey. “In fact, the only reason they’re here is because of the Goddard installation.”
The lawmakers warn that the proposal makes no economic sense and would be detrimental to national security. Rep. Hoyer plans to push for the cuts to be rolled back, stating that Congress will not support a measure that contradicts competitive and national security interests.
Source: https://wtop.com/maryland/2025/04/maryland-lawmakers-vow-to-fight-steep-budget-cuts-at-nasa