US government wants to reduce NASA's budget by almost 25 percent and cut jobs

The White House has presented its proposal for NASA's budget for the coming year. It provides for massive cuts to scientific and other notable projects. For example, the Space Launch System (SLS), NASA's giant rocket, and the associated Orion space capsule are to be phased out and the operation of the International Space Station (ISS) restricted. NASA would therefore have almost 25 percent less funding available for 2026 and the workforce is to be reduced. At the same time, the Trump administration is demanding that NASA focus on missions to the moon and Mars.

Around three weeks ago, it was reported that NASA was facing massive budget cuts from the Trump administration, with initial talk of cuts of 20 percent. However, the proposal now published by the new US administration for NASA's 2026 budget only provides for 18.8 billion US dollars for the US space agency. NASA still has 24.9 billion dollars at its disposal for the current year, meaning that the cut for the coming year would be as much as 24.5 percent if the US Congress approves the budget proposal.

Moon and Mars as top priorities

The budget proposal published by NASA for 2026 emphasizes beating China in the race to the moon and being the first nation to send humans to Mars as top goals. To this end, the NASA workforce, IT services, NASA Center operations, facility maintenance, construction and environmental sustainability activities are to be streamlined. In addition, unaffordable missions are to be scheduled and low-priority research reduced.

This is likely to affect the Artemis missions in particular, which got out of hand financially with the SLS giant rocket and the Orion capsule. However, savings are also to be made on the ISS, where only 2.5 billion dollars instead of the previous 3 billion dollars have been earmarked for operation and transportation to the station. The ISS crew is therefore to be reduced and focus primarily on supporting future missions to the moon and Mars. At the same time, preparations are to be made for the planned end of the ISS in 2030 and the switch to commercial space stations.

Space station in lunar orbit canceled

The designated new NASA director Jared Isaacman backed the Artemis missions at the beginning of April, but also supported alternative plans, according to Spacenews. "The commercial launch market is more capable than ever, with numerous U.S. providers investing in heavy-lift capabilities", Isaacman said last month. "NASA should capitalize on this competition and finally focus its world-class talent and infrastructure on what no one else is doing: developing the next generation of exploration technologies."

The reduced budget proposal also includes the discontinuation of the Gateway International Space Station, which was to orbit the moon as part of subsequent Artemis missions. This also affects cooperation with other space agencies in Europe, Japan, Canada and the United Arab Emirates, as they had agreed to collaborate on Gateway. In return, astronauts from these countries would take part in future moon missions. Isaacman had previously stated that he was not aware of any plans to cancel Gateway.

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