NASA budget slashed: Future missions and jobs at risk
Is this the end of American science? The Trump administration plans to cut NASA's science budget, which could significantly impact the Space Agency and threaten future space missions.
The Trump administration intends to reduce NASA's budget by 20 percent, resulting in a decrease of over 5 billion dollars from a total of 25 billion. This plan comes from the White House Office of Management and Budget, led by Russell Vought, who is known for his anti-science stance. The cuts will primarily affect the Science Mission Directorate, which oversees planetary research and astrophysics.
A budget reduced by up to 50 percent. Is this a collapse of American science?
According to Ars Technica, NASA's science budget is expected to be reduced by up to 50 percent by 2025. This year's budget was 7.5 billion dollars, but based on documents provided to the space agency, next year's funding may drop to just 3.9 billion dollars. Astrophysics funding will see the largest cuts, facing a reduction of over 60 percent. The outlook for research in heliophysics, planetary sciences, and Earth sciences is similarly bleak.
While the projects financing the Hubble and James Webb telescopes will continue, that is where the good news ends. The American administration does not plan to allocate resources to other telescopes, including the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which was supposed to begin exploring the cosmos within the next two years.
Space research limited, jobs at risk
Ending funding for certain space missions seems like a sound idea, according to the American administration. However, this means we won't learn what’s happening on Mars, as we’re saying goodbye to the Mars Sample Return mission. We also won't explore Venus because, according to Donald Trump, the DAVINCI mission is unnecessary. Additionally, the future of the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, which employs 10,000 people, is uncertain.
NASA has made significant contributions to science. Thanks to its numerous studies and missions, scientists explore space, solve the mysteries of black holes, and learn how stars and galaxies are formed. The agency has conducted many successful missions in recent years, including the 2021 landing of the Perseverance rover on Mars. Perseverance reached the Jezero Crater, where it collected samples to investigate traces of past life on the Red Planet.
Science policy experts argue that the American government's decision will impact the state of American science. Next year's cuts are described as an "extinction-level event" for NASA.
Budget cuts, Elon Musk's benefit?
Elon Musk is known for his controversial posts on platform X, producing popular electric cars that have seen a slight decline in popularity, and serving as director of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in President Donald Trump's administration. This special governmental unit, established in 2024, aims to reduce bureaucracy, limit federal spending, and increase the efficiency of government agencies. Coincidentally, Musk is also the owner of SpaceX, which plans to expand into space. Though the company has multiple contracts with NASA, in the long term, NASA's financial cuts could offer SpaceX some advantages, particularly if the company can fill the gap left by state programs.
Setting the budget involves a complex process that concludes with the approval of the federal budget. The process is now in motion, and NASA has 72 hours to analyze the funding and appeal the planned decisions. The total budget amount will be determined in the next six months.
