Bill Nye Leads Capitol Rally to Save NASA Funding Amid Proposed 2026 Budget Cuts

Bill Nye, CEO of the Planetary Society and former “Science Guy,” led hundreds of space advocates on Oct. 6, 2025, in a “Save NASA Science” day of action and a press conference on the Capitol steps urging Congress to reject the Trump administration’s proposed FY2026 cuts to NASA science. The White House plan would slash NASA’s budget roughly 24%—from about $24.8 billion in FY2025 to $18.8 billion—threatening planetary, Earth and astrophysics programs and, advocates warn, forcing premature termination of missions and halting development of future science projects. Nye and Planetary Society leaders argued that NASA investment delivers strong economic returns and is a constitutional imperative to “promote the progress of science,” noting more than 300 supporters and some 20 organizations participated in the action. While House and Senate appropriations proposals have largely left NASA funding near current levels, lawmakers and advocates say uncertainty remains—Sen. Maria Cantwell and others warn the Office of Management and Budget may already be implementing cuts—so advocates are pressing Congress to restore and protect funding for NASA and related science agencies.