US President Donald Trump is making a comprehensive cut to NASA’s budget. According to the new budget draft published on the agency’s official website, NASA’s budget is planned to be cut by $6 billion in fiscal year 2025.
Trump may make a major cut to NASA’s budget
The published documents revealed that NASA’s priorities have now shifted away from low orbit missions and towards the goals of returning to the Moon and sending humans to Mars. With this new strategy, the US aims to get ahead of rival countries like China in the space race. The documents clearly include sentences such as “leaving China behind in returning to the Moon and sending the first human to Mars.”
In NASA administrator Janet Petro’s internal briefing note, it was stated that many existing large-scale projects will either be completely stopped or suspended. The projects included in the scope of the cut include the long-developed SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, the Orion spacecraft and the Gateway space station planned to be built in lunar orbit.
In addition, the Mars Sample Return (MSR) program, which aims to bring samples taken from the surface of Mars back to Earth, will be canceled due to budget constraints. According to the draft, approximately 25% of NASA’s total funding will be cut.
These cuts will directly affect the agency’s operations, facility maintenance, information technology services, human resources and scientific research. The Trump administration’s new space policy aims to further increase integration with the private sector.
We can say that SpaceX is currently NASA’s largest partner and is a key indicator of this approach. So what do you think about this issue? You can share your views with us in the comments section below.
