Overview

• The Trump administration's FY2026 budget proposal reduces NASA's funding by 24%, cutting $6 billion from its current $24.9 billion budget.
• Key programs, including the Mars Sample Return mission, Space Launch System (SLS), Orion capsule, and Lunar Gateway, are slated for cancellation or retirement after Artemis III.
• The proposal increases funding for crewed lunar missions by $7 billion and allocates $1 billion for a future crewed Mars mission, prioritizing competition with China's advancing space initiatives.
• Critics, including bipartisan lawmakers, industry groups, and international partners like ESA, warn the cuts jeopardize U.S. leadership in space and undermine scientific research.
• NASA currently operates without a Senate-confirmed administrator, with Jared Isaacman's confirmation process still ongoing as the agency faces strategic and operational uncertainty.