47% NASA Science Budget Cut Draws Unprecedented Joint Opposition from All Living Former Chiefs

Washington D.C. – Every living former NASA Science Chief has united to sign a joint letter to Congress, urging lawmakers to reject a proposed 47% cut to NASA’s science budget for Fiscal Year 2026. This unprecedented collective action underscores deep concerns about the potential impact on the agency's scientific endeavors and its global leadership in space exploration. The initiative was spearheaded by the Planetary Society, with significant involvement from board member and former NASA Associate Administrator of Science, John Grunsfeld.

The White House's FY2026 budget proposal seeks a drastic reduction in NASA's overall funding, cutting it by 24% from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion. The Science Mission Directorate (SMD) faces the most severe impact, with its budget slated to be nearly halved from over $7 billion to $3.9 billion. The administration justifies these cuts by stating that current expenditures are "unsustainable" and aim for a "leaner, more focused Science program" prioritizing human spaceflight, particularly the Artemis program and Mars missions.

Such a substantial reduction threatens to terminate over 40 active and planned science missions, representing approximately one-third of NASA’s scientific portfolio. Missions like Mars Sample Return, OSIRIS-APEX, Juno, Mars Odyssey, MAVEN, and New Horizons are among those at risk. These cancellations would effectively waste billions of dollars in taxpayer investment and decades of scientific effort, as many of these missions cannot be restarted once halted.

Beyond mission cancellations, the proposed budget would lead to a significant workforce reduction, potentially cutting NASA's staff by one-third, marking the smallest workforce since 1960. This "brain drain" could result in a loss of critical institutional knowledge and expertise, impacting the U.S.'s competitive edge in space against nations like China. The Planetary Society described the proposed cuts as an "extinction-level event" for NASA's science programs.

The joint letter from the former science chiefs, including John Grunsfeld, emphasizes the long-term commitment required for space science and the detrimental effects of such abrupt changes. While the budget proposal still requires Congressional approval, internal memos have reportedly instructed mission leaders to prepare "closeout" plans for affected projects by early July, with plans to be in place by October 1. Despite some bipartisan resistance in Congress, the risk remains that these cuts could take effect through continuing resolutions if a final budget is not passed.