5 minute read•Updated 8:12 AM EDT, Tue April 15, 2025
The White House has proposed sweeping cuts to NASA’s science programs, slashing nearly 50% from the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and canceling multiple major missions. The cuts were detailed in a draft budget document known as a "passback," sent to NASA by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on April 10.
The document, not yet publicly released, outlines the administration’s preliminary fiscal year 2026 budget goals for the space agency and proposes cutting NASA’s overall budget from approximately $25 billion to $20 billion. However, the deepest wounds are aimed squarely at the agency’s science portfolio.
If enacted, the plan would devastate the scientific backbone of the space agency, gutting entire divisions, terminating flagship projects like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and Mars Sample Return, and prompting the closure of NASA centers, such as Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.
Major Cuts Coming To NASA Science Directorate
The Science Mission Directorate, which oversees NASA’s astrophysics, Earth science, heliophysics, and planetary science efforts, would see its funding fall from $7.5 billion in FY2025 to just $3.9 billion in FY2026, a staggering 47% reduction.
Among the most significant proposed cuts:
Astrophysics: Cut from $1.5 billion to $487 million, a two-thirds reduction. The passback calls for the cancellation of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, NASA’s next flagship observatory, despite it being fully assembled and on budget for a 2026 launch.
Earth Science: Slashed by more than 50% to $1.033 billion, placing dozens of missions studying climate change, weather, and natural disasters at risk.
Heliophysics: Dropped nearly 50% to $455 million, impacting space weather and solar observation programs.
Planetary Science: Cut by about 30% to $1.929 billion. Notably, the budget would terminate the Mars Sample Return (MSR) program, NASA’s highest planetary science priority, along with the DAVINCI mission to Venus.
The cuts appear to confirm long-rumored intentions by the Trump administration to reduce government investment in climate and space science.
Contradicting NASA Leadership and Promises
The budget proposals also directly contradict statements made just days earlier by the administration’s nominee for NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman. At his April 9 Senate confirmation hearing, Isaacman proclaimed himself “an advocate for science” and pledged to “launch more telescopes, more probes, more rovers.” He cited his public support for the Chandra X-ray Observatory and described NASA as “a force multiplier for science.”
Yet the budget passback, developed without Isaacman’s involvement, as he remains unconfirmed, proposes canceling future observatories and halting many scientific programs that underpin NASA’s international leadership.
Alarm from the Scientific Community and Congress
The passback has provoked sharp backlash from scientific organizations and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.
“The proposed budget from within the White House, which cuts NASA science by 47%, would plunge NASA into a dark age...It would prematurely terminate dozens of active, productive spacecraft and halt the development of nearly every future science project at NASA.” - The Planetary Society
“To gut NASA Goddard and the NASA Science Mission Directorate is not just shortsighted, it’s dangerous,” - Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.)
“a gift to China, and a slap in the face to those that have dedicated years to making the American space program the best in the world.” - Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)
“Effectuating these absurd cuts would destroy NASA’s ability to carry out its fundamental objectives, cut off their societal benefits, and spell catastrophe for the U.S. Earth and space science enterprise by throwing billions in already-made taxpayer investments into the trash heap.” - Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.)
Even Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and adviser to President Trump, took to social media calling the cuts “troubling” and reiterated his strong support for scientific research, though he clarified that he could not engage in budget discussions due to SpaceX’s role as a NASA contractor.
A Long Road Ahead
The budget passback is only the beginning of the formal budget process. NASA has 72 hours to respond with appeals and justifications for changes. After that, the administration will release a final President’s Budget Request, expected in the coming weeks.
Congress will then hold hearings and appropriations debates before passing an official budget. Lawmakers from science-heavy districts and those with NASA centers have already signaled fierce resistance to the cuts.
“This massive cut to NASA Science will not stand. Now we know it is true. I will work alongside my colleagues… to make clear how this would decimate American leadership in space.” - Rep. George Whitesides (D-Calif.)
The proposed budget slashes represent not just a reduction in spending, but a potential turning point in U.S. space science history. Over the past quarter century, NASA’s science programs have delivered monumental discoveries, from water plumes on Enceladus to helicopter flights on Mars, and detailed climate tracking on Earth.
Now, many of those programs and the scientists, students, and engineers behind them face an uncertain future. Whether Congress ultimately reverses the proposed cuts, the message from the White House is clear.
