White House's Proposed NASA Budget Cuts Could Slash Funding by Nearly Half

Recent reports indicate that the Trump administration is planning to significantly reduce NASA's budget for the 2026 fiscal year, with proposed cuts approaching nearly 50% across the board for various NASA science programs. The alarming details have emerged from a set of 'passback' documents suggesting drastic reductions in several key areas: astrophysics would see funding drop to $487 million, heliophysics to $455 million, Earth science to $1.033 billion, and planetary science by more than 30% to $1.929 billion. Casey Dreier, the Chief of Space Policy at The Planetary Society, expressed a dire outlook, stating that these cuts could render many active missions and in-development projects irrelevant. In his words, it creates a scenario where fully operational spacecraft, designed to advance our understanding of the universe, could be left to 'tumble aimlessly' in space. The proposed budget continues to support iconic missions, such as the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes, but would halt projects like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, already built and undergoing tests, jeopardizing over two decades of investment. Furthermore, the complete shutdown of the Goddard Space Flight Center could result in major layoffs impacting around 10,000 employees. Such proposed cuts resonate with previous actions taken by the Trump administration, including layoffs at other federal agencies, raising concerns that this trend of drastic budget reductions may continue. Dreier emphasizes that public sector agencies like NASA are critical for non-profit-driven endeavors, such as deep space exploration. The looming cuts echo a broader strategy that challenges the future exploration and scientific discoveries that NASA has traditionally championed. The urgency of this matter extends beyond mere numbers; it touches the core of American scientific leadership and fundamental research.