House appropriators keep NASA funding flat

WASHINGTON — A House appropriations subcommittee advanced a spending bill April 30 that would keep overall NASA funding at 2026 levels, rejecting a 23% cut proposed by the White House.

The House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Subcommittee approved a fiscal year 2027 spending bill on an 8-6 vote that fell along party lines. The bill goes to the full committee for a markup session scheduled for May 13.

The bill, released by the committee April 29, provided $24.438 billion for NASA, the same amount the agency received in fiscal year 2026. The White House had proposed $18.829 billion for NASA in 2027, a 23% cut.

While the bill keeps NASA’s overall funding the same as 2026, it adjusts funding within its accounts. Exploration would receive $8.926 billion, an increase of more than $1.1 billion from 2026. Science, though, would receive $6 billion, $1.25 billion less than 2026 but much higher than the $3.9 billion proposed by the administration.

The bill also makes smaller cuts to aeronautics and space technology, but provides a small increase to space operations. The bill goes along with the administration’s proposal to eliminate the Office of STEM Engagement, NASA’s education office, but moves two of its major programs, the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research and Space Grant, into the Safety, Security and Mission Services account.

The committee’s Republican leadership said the bill provided sufficient funding to keep NASA’s lunar exploration ambitions on track. “With the recent success of Artemis 2, it’s a critical time to invest in human space exploration and ensure that American astronauts are the first to return to the moon,” said Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., chairman of the CJS subcommittee.

Rogers, during a subcommittee hearing April 27, called the NASA budget proposal “disappointing” and said there needed to be more investment to keep pace with China in lunar exploration. “This is a critical time for investment in NASA.”

“For the success of Artemis 2, we saw America not just compete, but once again lead, push the boundaries of what is possible and set the pace as the world watches,” said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., chairman of the full committee. “It’s why we continue to support innovation, and NASA, in this legislation to guarantee we keep making history.”

Democrats, though, opposed the bill in part because of cuts to other parts of NASA. “Earlier this month, my Republican colleagues, alongside Democrats and the American people, celebrated the remarkable success of the Artemis mission,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-N.Y., ranking member of the full committee. “Now, Republicans are proposing to slash funding for NASA science, aeronautics and education initiatives.”

“The commitment to NASA I deeply appreciate, overall. I think Mr. [Jared] Isaacman has been a breath of fresh air,” said Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., a member whose district includes NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. “I think there have been cuts to science and the funding for some of the budgets that I have deep concerns about.”

There were no amendments introduced during the subcommittee markup, but members suggested they will introduce amendments during the full committee markup. That will also feature the release of the report accompanying the bill, which provides additional direction on spending for NASA and other agencies in the bill.