Congress Restores $5.6B to NASA After Proposed 47% Cut

Congress just saved America's space program from devastating cuts, approving a budget that restores billions to NASA in an 82-15 Senate vote. The spending bill, which also passed the House 397-28, protects the agency's exploration and science missions after the Trump administration proposed slashing NASA's budget by nearly $6 billion.

The victory matters most for NASA's science programs, which faced a proposed 47% cut that would have gutted planetary research and Earth observation. Instead, Congress restored funding to $7.25 billion, keeping critical missions alive.

Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas, who chairs the Senate appropriations subcommittee overseeing NASA, celebrated the decision as it coincided with NASA rolling out Artemis 2 this week. "This bill makes sure America remains on course to lead in space and does not cede ground to our competitors," he said.

The funding protects NASA's partnerships with commercial space companies and keeps the International Space Station running. Congress allocated $4.175 billion for space operations, rejecting a proposed 25% cut that threatened America's continuous presence in orbit.

NASA's Artemis moon program received $7.783 billion, slightly more than last year, ensuring astronauts will circle the moon for the first time in over 50 years. The Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, and lunar landers all continue full speed ahead.

The Ripple Effect

This budget win extends far beyond NASA's doors. The aerospace industry employs hundreds of thousands of Americans across all 50 states, from engineers designing spacecraft to technicians building instruments.

Maryland's Goddard Space Flight Center, a national treasure facing building closures, received special protection in the bill. Congress directed NASA to preserve all technical and scientific capabilities at Goddard and ordered a National Academies study of the facility's future.

The Aerospace Industries Association praised the bipartisan support. "Investing in NASA and NOAA ensures the United States remains the global leader in space exploration and scientific discovery," said president Eric Fanning.

Even NASA's space technology programs, which develop breakthrough innovations that often benefit life on Earth, saw partial restoration. The account received $920.5 million instead of facing a 50% cut.

The bill did cancel Mars Sample Return, a troubled mission facing major cost overruns and delays. However, Congress redirected $110 million toward technologies for future Mars and moon missions, keeping the door open for Red Planet exploration.

Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland summed up the stakes simply: "We won't have a space program if we don't understand what's happening in space."

America's journey to the stars continues with renewed confidence and bipartisan backing.