Trump administration proposes slashing NASA budget by 24%

The Trump administration’s proposed 2026 budget cuts NASA funding by $6 billion, a 24% reduction from 2025 levels, marking the largest single-year cut in NASA’s history.
Significant reductions target space science, Earth science, and human exploration programs, with some projects like Mars sample return and the Gateway lunar station potentially canceled.
The budget phases out the costly Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion capsule after three flights, planning to replace them with more cost-effective commercial systems.
Despite cuts, funding for human space exploration receives a $650 million increase, emphasizing a focus on lunar return and eventual Mars missions.