Trump Budget Cuts NASA, Shifts to Commercial Space

The Trump administration has proposed a $6 billion reduction in NASA's budget, lowering it from $24.9 billion to $18.8 billion and putting science, research, and Earth science programs, including climate-change monitoring, at risk. While Moon and Mars human exploration efforts would see increased funding, critics warn that cuts threaten NASA’s core mission and could cause job losses at key facilities like the Michoud Assembly Facility. The budget plan would phase out traditional NASA-led launch systems in favor of commercial alternatives, notably making SpaceX’s Starship a central part of future US space initiatives. This shift has prompted concerns from lawmakers and local officials about American space leadership, workforce stability, and the role of private companies. NASA is adjusting its schedules and logistics to keep operations and research on track aboard the International Space Station despite the budget uncertainty. Some NASA leaders advocate for preserving the agency’s broad scientific mandate beyond political cycles.