WASHINGTON \u2014 Congress has approved a fiscal year 2026 spending bill that largely restores funding proposed for deep cuts to NASA while canceling one major mission.<\/p>\n
The Senate voted 82-15 Jan. 16 to pass a \u201cminibus\u201d appropriations bill combining three spending measures, including the Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) bill. The CJS measure funds NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Science Foundation, among other agencies.<\/p>\n
The legislation, which the House approved Jan. 8 by a 397-28 vote, is identical to the minibus introduced Jan. 5<\/a>. It provides $24.438 billion for NASA, slightly less than the $24.875 billion the agency received in fiscal year 2024 and again in 2025 under a full-year continuing resolution, but far more than the $18.8 billion requested by the Trump administration in May.<\/p>\n The bill restores funding to NASA\u2019s science programs, providing $7.25 billion. NASA\u2019s science account received $7.334 billion in 2025, but the administration\u2019s proposal sought a 47% cut to just over $3.9 billion.<\/p>\n The minibus also rejects proposed cuts to NASA\u2019s space operations account, which includes the International Space Station and support for future commercial space stations. The White House sought a 25% reduction from the $4.22 billion the account received in 2025, but the bill provides $4.175 billion.<\/p>\n Funding for NASA\u2019s space technology account was partially restored. The account, which received $1.1 billion in 2025, faced a proposed cut of nearly 50%. The minibus provides $920.5 million, a reduction of about 16%.<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s exploration programs, including the Space Launch System, Orion and the Human Landing System, receive $7.783 billion, slightly more than the $7.666 billion provided in 2025. The administration had proposed increasing that account to more than $8.3 billion.<\/p>\n \u201cAt NASA, it bolsters American leadership in human spaceflight, space science and aeronautics at a very critical moment,\u201d said Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., chairman of the Senate CJS appropriations subcommittee, in floor remarks Jan. 14. \u201cThis week, in fact, NASA is rolling out Artemis 2, the next consequential step toward sending astronauts around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis bill makes sure America remains on course to lead in space and does not cede ground to our competitors,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Moran did not mention the administration\u2019s proposed cuts, but the subcommittee\u2019s ranking member did.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is another area where we rejected the very deep cuts proposed by the Trump administration, including the 47% cut they had proposed to NASA\u2019s science budget,\u201d said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. \u201cWe won\u2019t have a space program if we don\u2019t understand what\u2019s happening in space.\u201d<\/p>\n Van Hollen also cited report language addressing NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. A wave of building closures and consolidations has raised concerns among employees and elected officials about the center\u2019s future<\/a>. The report directs NASA to preserve \u201call the technical and scientific world-class capabilities at Goddard\u201d and calls on the National Academies to conduct a study of the center\u2019s facilities.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a national treasure,\u201d he said of Goddard, \u201cand we need to preserve it.\u201d<\/p>\n The bill was largely met with praise and relief across the space industry after months of uncertainty about potential NASA cuts.<\/p>\n \u201cInvesting in NASA and NOAA ensures the United States remains the global leader in space exploration and scientific discovery,\u201d said Eric Fanning, president and chief executive of the Aerospace Industries Association, in a Jan. 6 statement following release of the minibus. \u201cThe Aerospace Industries Association is pleased to see bipartisan backing for this legislation, and we encourage Congress to pass it to unleash the power of our industry.\u201d<\/p>\n