Overview

• The House Appropriations Committee approved the FY2026 CJS bill 34–28, keeping NASA near $24.838 billion, far above the administration’s $18.8 billion request.
• Committee report language backs continued operations for Chandra, Juno, and New Horizons, and supports ongoing U.S. participation in Israel’s ULTRASAT mission.
• The bill provides a $300 million lifeline for Mars Sample Return after the administration proposed terminating the program.
• The manager’s amendment endorses a new cadence of lower‑cost Mars missions with potential commercial partnerships and adds targeted support for aeronautics, a Deep Space Food Challenge, and lightweight technologies.
• Most Democratic amendments were rejected, including Rep. Joe Morelle’s bid to boost inspectors general and remove the shuttle transfer requirement, and the bill now heads to the full House with an October 1 deadline approaching.