The preliminary 2026 budget proposal from the Trump administration suggests an unprecedented reduction in NASA funding, marking the most significant single-year cut in the agency’s impressive 67-year history. These budget cuts are part of a broader governmental strategy referred to as the “skinny budget,” which also seems to cater to Elon Musk’s wish list concerning DOGE. With this budget, the proposed reductions would severely undermine the agency’s science programs, cancel the ambitious Gateway space station project, and phase out the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule after executing a mere three flights.

The proposed budget indicates a staggering cut of over $6 billion from NASA’s funding for 2025, reducing it from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion. This represents a significant 24 percent decrease, which, according to The Planetary Society, constitutes the largest single-year decline in NASA’s funding ever recorded. Notably, Space.com highlights that the most severe reductions would impact space science, which would face a cut of $2.3 billion, Earth science would see $1.2 billion less, and legacy human exploration programs would be reduced by $900 million, threatening critical research and exploration initiatives.

Moreover, the Gateway project, which is designed to serve as a lunar orbit space station facilitating missions to the Moon and, eventually, Mars, is also on the chopping block. Additionally, a collaborative program with the European Space Station aimed at returning Mars soil samples to Earth would be terminated. The administration further proposes to eliminate NASA’s efforts in sustainable aviation—a move that raises concerns about environmental implications—along with any funding directed towards misaligned DEIA initiatives, which focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

NASA

Additionally, the budget proposal would lead to the phase-out of Boeing’s SLS and Lockheed Martin’s Orion after just three flights—developments that have already cost taxpayers $26.4 billion and $21.5 billion respectively. The Trump administration is advocating for the adoption of “more cost-effective commercial systems” to replace these high-cost projects. This shift raises concerns among observers, as it may disproportionately benefit billionaire backers like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, suggesting a potential conflict of interest in the transition to commercial alternatives.

In a rare positive note, the only aspect of NASA’s operations that would witness an increase in funding is human space exploration, which is slated for a boost of $650 million. As reported by Bloomberg, the budget outlines a significant increase of over $7 billion for lunar exploration and a new investment of $1 billion directed towards Mars exploration, indicating some commitment to advancing human spaceflight initiatives amidst broader cuts.

For those who prioritize scientific research, there is a glimmer of hope as the proposed budget must gain approval from Congress, meaning that some of the outlined cuts may be modified or eliminated before the 2026 budget is finalized. It’s worth noting that Trump’s political influence is not as robust as it once was, with recent polls indicating a significant decline in public support, where over half of Americans now view the 47th president as a “dangerous dictator,” which could further complicate the budget approval process.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/the-white-houses-proposed-budget-would-cancel-nasas-gateway-space-station-project-201459838.html?src=rss

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