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2h ago

Senate Report Alleges OMB Pushed NASA to Implement Unapproved FY26 Cuts, Eyeing Impoundment

A Senate Democratic staff report alleges White House pressure to carry out unapproved cuts that raise constitutional and safety concerns before a funding deadline.

The United States flag hangs behind the NASA logo at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
Near NASA’s Mary W. Jackson headquarters in Washington, D.C., some lawmakers are pushing for a measure that would protect NASA employees during a government shutdown. Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
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Overview

  • The report says OMB, led by Russell Vought, has directed NASA since early summer to align operations with the president’s FY2026 proposal despite no enacted appropriations.
  • Whistleblowers describe immediate safety impacts and a culture of fear, citing suppressed reporting channels and warnings that astronaut risk could rise within a few years.
  • NASA Chief of Staff Brian Hughes is quoted telling staff to prepare to act on the FY26 request, with employees reporting guidance that programs outside the proposal “do not count.”
  • The report cites plans to use impoundment under a continuing resolution to force the proposal’s cuts, even as House and Senate appropriators largely reject the nearly 25% reduction.
  • With a potential Oct. 1 funding lapse, OMB told agencies to prepare layoffs in a shutdown and NASA had not issued updated public guidance, while Senate Democrats proposed legislation to block unilateral implementation under a CR.