The Planetary Society: reported cuts to NASA would amount to an “extinction event” for space science and exploration

Pasadena, CA (March 7, 2025) — The Planetary Society, the world’s largest independent space interest organization, issued the following statements in response to recent reports that the White House is considering a 50% cut to NASA’s science projects in its 2026 fiscal year budget proposal:

The Planetary Society is deeply alarmed by reports that the White House will propose a 50% cut to NASA’s science activities in the upcoming agency budget request. Such a substantial collapse of funding could functionally surrender American leadership in scientific space exploration. It could also shatter the nation’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educational pipeline, and decimate the world’s most capable and accomplished scientific and engineering workforce.

Should these cuts come to pass, the result would be nothing short of an extinction event for space science and exploration in the United States.

We urge the White House to reconsider its approach to funding the world’s most capable exploration agency. We urge Congress to continue their decades of bipartisan support for these unique activities — only NASA funds exploration science missions in the United States.

The Planetary Society stands ready to work with all stakeholders to ensure the United States continues to lead the world in the ambitious, inspirational, scientifically exciting, and technologically innovative exploration of the Cosmos enabled by its space science missions and workforce.

In response to these potential cuts, The Planetary Society has launched a campaign to urge citizens to write their representatives and voice their concern. Those who wish to take action can do so at planet.ly/nasacuts.

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Casey Dreier, chief of space policy, is available for interviews. Please arrange with Danielle Gunn, chief communications officer, at [email protected]