Potential NASA Earth Science Cuts Highlight Budget Uncertainty

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COLORADO SPRINGS — Some NASA Earth science missions have been told to prepare termination plans given the potential for major budget cuts in the agency's overall science activities.

Rep. George Whitesides (D-Calif.), vice ranking member of the House Science Committee, said at a congressional roundtable here April 6 during the 40 th Space Symposium that he had recently learned that both Earth science missions in formulation and those in extended operations after their prime missions had been asked to prepare termination plans starting for fiscal year 2026.

"To be clear, this is not yet agency direction, but the fact that we are preparing these scenarios is extremely concerning, and I'm going to be working very hard to make sure that we protect our Earth science missions," he said.

Asked what the impact of that rumors 50% cut would be, she said it would depend on the specifics of the proposal. "But, a 50% cut is going to result in some pretty drastic decisions."

At an April 3 committee meeting during the National Academies' Space Science Week, Karen St. Germain, director of NASA's Earth science division, deferred questions on the budget. "I don't have budget insights and I don't really have insights to share with regards to the executive order on agency reorganization," she said. "That's happening above my pay grade."

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