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Documents from the White House reveal that President Trump’s budget proposal for 2026 includes massive cuts to NASA, NOAA, and other science programs, according to the report of Nature.com. These cuts threaten research into climate change, weather forecasting, and space exploration. The proposed reductions could put crucial scientific projects in jeopardy, drawing concern from scientists and policymakers alike.
NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) could lose 74% of its funding, which supports research on climate change, hurricanes, and ocean conditions. This would leave OAR with just $171 million, making it difficult to maintain essential programs like climate modelling and weather forecasting. Additionally, a $50 million program aimed at helping communities track climate impacts like heatwaves and droughts could be cancelled.
Craig McLean, a former NOAA administrator, warned that these cuts would hurt both research and public safety, saying, “This is a giant threat to research at NOAA, but also to the safety and economic security of the American public.”
5 key climate & space projects cut
| Project/Program | Agency | Proposed Budget Cut | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) | NOAA | 74% cut (down to $171 million) | Dismantles key climate research, including climate modeling, weather forecasting, and ocean studies. |
| Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope | NASA | Full funding cut ($4.3 billion) | Cancels the next-generation space telescope, crucial for exploring the universe. |
| Earth-Observing Satellites | NASA & NOAA | NASA’s Earth-science budget halved (to $1 billion) | Delays or cancels new satellites that monitor climate change, weather, and environmental factors. |
| NOAA’s Weather Satellites | NOAA | Program cut entirely | Ends the launch of new weather satellites, affecting weather forecasting and disaster response. |
| Space-Traffic Control System | Civilian Agency | Budget slashed from $65 million to $10 million | Reduces satellite collision prevention efforts, risking space safety. |
NASA’s space programs are also at risk. The Trump administration has proposed cutting funding for the $4.3-billion Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which is nearing completion at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The telescope is set to replace the aging Hubble and James Webb telescopes.
Although Trump has tried to cut funding for this project in the past, Congress blocked the efforts. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, whose district includes the Goddard Space Center, vowed to oppose the cuts, saying, “I will fight tooth and nail against these cuts.”
In 2018, Trump’s administration took steps to create a civilian office for managing space traffic. The new proposal would shift this responsibility to an unknown entity outside the government, which could make it harder to manage space safety.
While these cuts are not final, the leaked documents have raised alarm. Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at the Planetary Society, warned that the cuts could “dismantle NASA’s scientific fleet and the pipeline of future missions.” He said the proposed budget would hurt the future of space exploration and research.
The final decision will be made by Congress, which typically adjusts the president’s budget. In Trump’s first term, Congress blocked some of his proposed science cuts. But this time, with a Republican-controlled Congress, the administration may find more support for its budget priorities.
Despite the uncertainty, these proposed cuts show the administration’s continued push to reduce government spending on science and technology. Some scientists fear that without these programs, the U.S. could lose critical data on climate change, weather forecasting, and space exploration.
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