NASA has allegedly been implementing President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts to the agency since June, according to a report released Monday by Democrats on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
Whistleblowers told Congress that they’re already worried about the cuts affecting the safety of the agency’s programs, with one telling lawmakers that they are “very concerned that we’re going to see an astronaut death within a few years,” according to the report.
By the numbers: The Trump administration proposed a $18.8B budget for NASA in fiscal 2026, which was a 24% cut from the $24.9B fiscal 2025 topline. The proposal included major cuts to specific programs, including STEM engagement and space science.
Lawmakers in both chambers have rejected the cuts. House appropriators passed a $24.8B budget for the space agency, and the Senate appropriations committee supported a $24.9B budget. However, because of stalemates on Capitol Hill that have prevented appropriations bills passing the full chambers, FY2026 is all but certain to start under a continuing resolution.
The highlights: Some top-level findings in the 21-page report include:
- OMB directed the space agency to begin implementing the president’s fiscal 2026 budget request for NASA less than two weeks after it was released—and before it had been approved by Congress.
- Implementation of the cuts has taken place “under wraps,” according to one whistleblower, and officials haven’t put anything in writing.
- The administration is seeking to use impoundment to limit NASA’s funding levels to those proposed by President Donald Trump, if there is a continuing resolution.
Pushback: NASA associate administrator Amit Kshatriya said in a statement that the report is “false.”
“NASA has communicated openly and transparently with Congress that we continue to execute our available appropriated funding in accordance with established fiscal policies which respect congressional authorities,” he said. “NASA will never compromise on safety. The president’s budget request stands with Congress at this point, and NASA will enact the budget appropriated to us.”
Full court press: Space advocates are pushing to make sure impoundment doesn’t hurt the space agency’s budget. The Planetary Society is leading a day of action on Capitol Hill next week, where more than a dozen space and science orgs will meet with lawmakers. Jack Kiraly, the Planetary Society’s director of government relations, said the date in early October was chosen specifically so that volunteers could quickly respond to administration actions such as impounding funds.
Update: This story was updated Oct. 1 to include a comment from NASA.
