Republican Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) on Sunday criticized the Trump administration\u2019s proposed cuts to NASA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think it would be a mistake to put money only in the missions related to exploration and not into science and the others. I wouldn\u2019t start with the premise that exploration is the only important aspect of the budget,\u201d said Moran, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, which oversees NASA, at the annual Space Symposium in Colorado, according to SpaceNews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier this month, the White House Office of Management and Budget requested $18.8 billion for NASA from Congress for fiscal 2027, $5.6 billion less than the 2026 amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proposed budget would cut $3.4 billion from NASA\u2019s science unit by terminating more than 40 \u201clow-priority\u201d missions. It would also cut $1.1 billion from the International Space Station, which is scheduled to be retired in 2030; $297 million from the space technology unit; and $143 million from NASA\u2019s Office of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Engagement \u2014 including the termination of a program that funneled millions to engineering and data science initiatives at historically Black colleges and universities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Moran reportedly said Sunday that he will work to fund NASA \u201cin a way that is pretty similar to what we did last year.\u201d He also noted that his subcommittee has scheduled a hearing on the budget proposal with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman but did not provide a date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI understand that a strong NASA requires stability, predictability and balance,\u201d the Kansas Republican added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier this month, Isaacman defended the cuts in an interview on CNN\u2019s \u201cState of the Union.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNASA\u2019s budget is greater than every other space agency across the world,\u201d he told host Jake Tapper. \u201cNASA\u2019s science budget is greater than every other space agency combined across the world. A lot of that takes out of context the $10 billion investment in President Trump\u2019s signature One Big Beautiful Bill or Working Families Tax Cut credit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what gives us the capability to get to the moon with frequency, to build the enduring presence on the moon, the moon base, which in itself is going to afford numerous scientific and technological development opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Judy Chu (D-Calif.), the co-chairs of the Congressional Planetary Science Caucus, said Thursday they were \u201cdeeply alarmed\u201d by the administration\u2019s proposed budget for NASA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese drastic cuts would create enormous chaos and uncertainty for critical missions, the scientific workforce, and long-term research planning,\u201d the two wrote in a joint statement. \u201cAt the same time, current funding for NASA Science has not kept pace with inflation, underscoring the need for more investment, not less.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n