House Appropriators Rally for NASA Missions Amid Budget Cuts

The House Appropriations Committee has expressed support for several threatened NASA missions in response to the administration’s proposed budget cuts for fiscal year 2026. On September 10, 2023, the committee voted 34-28 to approve a spending bill that includes nearly $24.838 billion for NASA, a figure that remains close to the $24.875 billion allocated in fiscal years 2024 and 2025. This amount stands in stark contrast to the proposed reduction to $18.8 billion in the administration’s budget.

The spending bill is set to be presented to the full House for further consideration. Although the bill largely mirrors the version approved by the commerce, justice, and science (CJS) subcommittee on July 14, it incorporates a manager’s amendment that outlines noncontroversial changes and updates to the accompanying report.

Support for Key NASA Missions

The report accompanying the bill highlights continued support for several NASA missions that are at risk of cancellation, including the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Juno mission at Jupiter, and the New Horizons mission in the Kuiper Belt. While specific funding levels for these missions are not delineated, the language indicating ongoing support suggests that NASA should prioritize their operations within its science budget.

Additionally, the amendment reinforces NASA’s collaboration on the Ultrasat astrophysics mission with Israel, which faced potential termination under the proposed budget. Other areas of support include certain aeronautics programs and the Deep Space Food Challenge, a $3 million initiative within NASA’s space technology directorate. The committee has also recommended that NASA allocate up to $10 million across its directorates for the development of “transformational lightweight technologies and vehicles.”

During the markup session, most proposed amendments were rejected, particularly those from Democrats aiming to restore funding for various programs at other agencies. One notable amendment from Rep. Joe Morelle, a Democrat from New York, sought to secure $9.3 million for NASA’s inspectors general. It also proposed the elimination of $85 million earmarked in a recent reconciliation bill for transferring the shuttle Discovery from the National Air and Space Museum to Space Center Houston.

Morelle emphasized the importance of fully funding the inspector general’s office to combat waste, fraud, and abuse. He pointed out that while the reconciliation bill allocated $85 million for the shuttle transfer, experts from the Smithsonian estimated the actual cost to be approximately $325 million.

Committee Response and Future Implications

Rep. Hal Rogers, the Republican chairman of the CJS subcommittee, opposed Morelle’s amendment, arguing that the additional funds for inspectors general were not offset elsewhere in the bill. “The ink has barely dried on this new legislation,” he remarked, referring to the reconciliation bill. He expressed concern that attempts to amend it through the appropriations process could undermine its intent. Ultimately, the committee voted down the amendment, largely along party lines, with a vote of 33-27.

As the bill moves forward, the implications for NASA and its missions could be significant. The agency is positioned to continue operations on key projects, although the lack of specific funding dedicated to these initiatives raises questions about the long-term viability of its programs in the face of potential budget constraints.

The upcoming discussions in the full House will determine the future of NASA funding and its ability to maintain its role in space exploration and scientific discovery.