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White House Seeks 24% Cut to NASA as Over 2,100 Senior Staff Plan to Exit

Senators unveiled a $24.9 billion counterproposal to preserve NASA’s science and exploration programs.

The NASA logo hangs in the Mission Operations Control Center at Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia, U.S., October 26, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo
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Overview

  • The FY2026 budget request would reduce NASA’s funding from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion—the largest single-year cut in the agency’s history.
  • The Science Mission Directorate faces a 47 percent reduction, threatening nearly all new science missions and advanced technology investments.
  • More than 2,100 senior staff, including 1,818 mission-critical scientists and human spaceflight experts, have accepted buyouts or deferred resignations.
  • Bipartisan lawmakers proposed a $24.9 billion alternative to maintain key programs such as Orion, the Space Launch System and the Mars Sample Return mission.
  • NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens said the agency remains committed to its mission as it adapts to a “more prioritized budget” while awaiting Congress’s decision.