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20h ago

Trump Administration Proposes Major NASA Budget Cuts and Program Restructuring

The FY2026 budget seeks a 25% reduction in NASA funding, ending key programs like SLS, Orion, and Gateway while prioritizing Moon and Mars exploration.

President Donald Trump's budget request would slash NASA funding by 25% and result in the end of Houston-area programs at the Johnson Space Center.
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The Space Launch System and Orion would be phased out after Artemis 3 in the White House's 2026 budget proposal for NASA.

Overview

  • The proposed $18.8 billion FY2026 budget represents a 25% cut to NASA's funding, down from $25 billion in FY2025.
  • The Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft will be phased out after Artemis III, with commercial systems expected to replace them for future lunar missions.
  • The Lunar Gateway program and the Mars Sample Return mission are slated for cancellation, reallocating resources to human exploration priorities.
  • Over $7 billion is designated for lunar missions, and $1 billion is allocated to new Mars-focused programs to compete with China's space ambitions.
  • The International Space Station's operations and research capabilities will be reduced, preparing for its decommissioning by 2030 and transition to commercial replacements.