The US Congress has firmly defended space research, rejecting sweeping budget cuts to NASA proposed by President Donald Trump’s administration. While the White House pushed to reduce the agency’s funding to $18.8 billion — nearly a quarter less than last year — lawmakers suggested restoring NASA’s capabilities. The proposed cuts would have hit science programs especially hard, allocating just $3.9 billion for them, which would have meant an almost complete halt to most missions.
However, Congress refused to accept this scenario. In early January, the House of Representatives and the Senate presented their own budget plan, allocating $24.4 billion to NASA for fiscal year 2026. Most of these funds are aimed at reviving science programs that were at risk of disappearing. In an explanatory note to the bill, senators made it clear: they rejected the idea of slashing science funding by nearly half and ending 55 current and planned missions. Instead, $7.25 billion is proposed for scientific research.
A final decision on the budget has yet to be made: votes still remain in both chambers of Congress, after which the president must sign the document. But it’s already clear that NASA has avoided the worst-case scenario, and the scientific community can breathe a sigh of relief.
Space Priorities
Restored funding opens new horizons for the agency’s ambitious projects. One of the main beneficiaries is the Dragonfly project—a unique mission that will send a rotorcraft to Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. The project has been allocated $500 million. Dragonfly is scheduled to launch in 2028 and will search for organic compounds that could shed light on the origin of life in the universe. Titan is the only known object beyond Earth with stable liquid on its surface, making it an ideal research laboratory.
Another major recipient of funds is the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. $300 million has been allocated to complete its construction. The telescope could launch as early as this fall. It will study dark energy, as well as the processes of galaxy and star formation—promising to revolutionize our understanding of how the universe works.
Mars impasse
But not all NASA projects received the green light. The most expensive and ambitious program—the delivery of Martian soil samples to Earth—was left without support. Congress declined to fund the current version of the Mars Sample Return mission, which has already faced repeated delays and cost overruns. Now the agency must look for new ways to accomplish this task if it still aims to bring back samples collected by the Perseverance rover.
This decision came as an unexpected blow to supporters of Martian exploration. Although the mission is considered crucial for the future of crewed flights to the Red Planet, its cost and organizational challenges raised serious concerns among lawmakers. NASA will have to revise its plans and possibly propose a more cost-effective and realistic approach to making this dream a reality.
Politics and Science
The situation surrounding NASA’s budget has once again highlighted how deeply intertwined politics and science are in the United States. Funding decisions are based not only on the scientific value of projects, but also on political priorities, economic realities, and public opinion. This year, Congress has clearly focused on maintaining U.S. leadership in space, supporting those areas most likely to bring the country prestige and scientific breakthroughs.
At the same time, the fate of the Mars mission shows that even the most ambitious projects can be threatened if lawmakers are not convinced of their necessity and effectiveness. NASA now faces the difficult task of finding compromises and new solutions in order to maintain momentum in the race to explore deep space.
The Future of NASA
The restoration of funding for scientific programs is an important signal for the entire global scientific community. The United States is not ready to concede its position in space exploration, despite political disagreements and economic challenges. For NASA, this is not only a chance to preserve key missions, but also to lay the groundwork for new groundbreaking discoveries.
However, much uncertainty still lies ahead. The final budget vote may bring changes, and the fate of individual projects continues to depend on many factors. One thing is clear: the race for space is ongoing, and the stakes in this game are only getting higher.
RUSSPAIN reminds that NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is the United States agency for aeronautics and space exploration, founded in 1958. The agency is responsible for civil space programs and research, as well as the development of new technologies for space exploration. Over the decades, NASA has carried out hundreds of missions, including the manned landing on the Moon, Mars rover deployments, and the creation of major orbital telescopes. Today, NASA remains a global leader in space research and innovation.
