Budget Cuts and Program Cancellations
The proposed 2026 budget by President seeks to cut 's funding by approximately $6 billion, marking a significant reduction from the current fiscal year's nearly $25 billion budget.
Key components of NASA's Artemis program, including the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, Orion spacecraft, and the , are targeted for termination. The proposal suggests replacing these with commercial systems for future lunar missions.
Shifts in Space Exploration and Science Funding
Despite the cuts, the budget maintains a focus on human exploration, allocating over $7 billion for lunar exploration and introducing $1 billion for Mars-focused programs, aiming to outpace in lunar and Martian exploration.
Significant reductions are proposed for space science, Earth science, and mission support, with the intention of reallocating funds towards manned missions to the Moon and Mars. This includes a halt to the Mars Sample Return mission and cuts to the International Space Station's budget.