The White House has released its proposed budget for 2026, which would significantly reduce funding for NASA. The cuts would amount to more than $6 billion from the 2025 budget, representing a 24% decrease. This is the largest single-year reduction in NASA’s history.
The proposals include canceling the Gateway space station project and phasing out the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule after only three flights. The cuts would also gut NASA’s science programs and reduce funding for Earth sciences, with a $2.3 billion decrease in space science and $1.2 billion less in Earth science.
Additionally, the budget would end NASA’s sustainable aviation efforts and eliminate funding for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives. The White House seeks to replace these programs with “more cost-effective commercial systems.”
However, there is a silver lining: human space exploration would see a $650 million boost, with over $7 billion allocated for lunar exploration and a new $1 billion investment in Mars exploration.
It’s worth noting that Congress would need to approve the budget, which means some of these cuts could be reversed. The Trump administration’s popularity has also been declining, with recent polling showing plummeting support and many Americans viewing him as a “dangerous dictator.”
Source: https://www.engadget.com/science/space/the-white-houses-proposed-budget-would-cancel-nasas-gateway-space-station-project-201459838.html