The Trump administration plans to significantly cut NASA’s budget next year, slashing science research funding in half. This reduction would halt the launch of a high-tech space telescope and curtail other planetary exploration missions. The proposed cuts have alarmed scientists and politicians.
“This is an extinction-level event for NASA science,” said Casey Dreier, space policy chief for the Planetary Society. In Maryland, Democratic lawmakers Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Steny Hoyer, and Rep. Glenn Ivey have expressed opposition to the cuts, citing potential benefits to China’s space program.
The budget plan, part of Trump’s effort to reduce federal spending, would drop NASA funding to $20 billion in fiscal year 2026, down from $24.9 billion in fiscal year 2024. Most of this loss would be felt in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, which oversees the agency’s science missions.
The cuts affect various departments, including Planetary Science, Earth Science, Astrophysics, and Heliophysics. While some existing telescopes like Hubble and Chandra will still receive funding, others like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope would not be launched.
NASA has already started laying off staff and closing offices in response to Trump’s orders. The agency’s budget accounts for only 0.36% of the total national budget. Democratic lawmakers have warned that the cuts could lead to a “deep ditch” for NASA if implemented.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2025/04/21/nasa-budget-cuts-trump/83083256007