WASHINGTON — The United States is all in on going to the moon, but lawmakers are arguing about proposed cuts they believe undermine other parts of the mission in space.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman defended the Trump administration’s proposed cuts during a House Appropriations budget hearing on Monday, arguing that the agency must be able to reach its goals without wasting taxpayer money.
“We owe it to the American people to show we can achieve extraordinary outcomes with budget requests that already exceed every civilian space agency in the world combined,” Isaacman said.
The president’s budget request for NASA is set to be slashed by almost $6 billion, with the science budget being cut by almost 50 percent and the Office of STEM Management being defunded entirely.
Lawmakers from both parties pushed back on the proposal, warning that deep cuts to programs like science and safety could impact U.S. competitiveness in the modern space race.
Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., called the proposed budget “deeply flawed,” blaming the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget for shortcomings.
“Unfortunately, the FY27 budget reflects more chaos and failure by OMB,” Meng said. “This budget proposal from the Trump administration devalues education, and it devalues the kinds of advanced research in aviation and earth science that will be critical to the American economy for years and decades to come.”
Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., was more reserved in placing blame on a singular entity, but said he was not pleased with the cuts, especially given the recent triumphs of the Artemis program.
“After the success and momentum that NASA has built up over the last year, it’s disappointing to see that request,” Rogers said in his opening statement.
Isaacman tried to assure lawmakers that a smaller budget won’t harm space exploration, the only part of the budget where the proposal increased from fiscal year 2026.
“I am confident that we have an achievable plan now to return to the moon and build enduring infrastructure under the president’s budget request for FY27,” Isaacman said.
Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., disagreed and believed that more funding will likely be necessary to fulfill the goals Isaacman set forth.
“I appreciate the vision and the energy that you’re bringing to NASA,” Ivey said to Isaacman. “I am concerned though about the PBR (president’s budget request). I don’t know if it actually gives you the resources you need to accomplish the mission.”
Many Republican lawmakers emphasized beating China to return astronauts to the surface of the moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
“America is in a space race with China, not so different from where we found ourselves during the Apollo Era,” Rogers said. “The nation’s commitment to Apollo and the success of the program clearly demonstrates that this is a critical time for investment in NASA.”
Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, spoke about the memories he had as a teenager amid the last space race with the Soviet Union. He said he remembered watching and hearing the beeps of Sputnik 1 – the first artificial satellite in space – fly by his home as he and his friends marveled in his backyard.
“All the kids thought it was great and all the parents were scared,” Carter said. “I’m old enough to remember that and it was a big deal in my life.”
Carter said there were “no parties screaming at each other” back then. Republicans and Democrats both stood united and determined in wanting to beat the Soviets to the moon.
“We got together and we made it work,” Carter said before putting on his cowboy hat and walking out of the hearing. “If we do that this time, the Chinese don’t have a chance.”