America’s primary science agencies will avoid deep funding cuts after the Senate voted to reject reductions proposed by the Trump Administration for fiscal year 2026. The Senate passed a three-bill appropriations package covering Commerce, Justice, and Science, which maintains funding for NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF), while increasing support for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Senator Maria Cantwell stated, “Our science and technology enterprise is the envy of the world and the growth engine of our innovation economy. The President’s budget would have slashed a quarter of NASA’s funding and half of the National Science Foundation’s funding, jeopardizing our economic competitiveness and national security. Instead, Congress held the line, protecting America’s ability to do big things, like establishing a permanent outpost on the Moon, developing space technology that monitors extreme weather and protects our citizens from natural disasters, and inventing the microelectronics of the future that power information systems and lifesaving medical devices. Our world-class researchers and technologists will have the resources they need to expand the boundaries of knowledge that have long enabled us to invent our future.”
The final legislation provides $24.4 billion for NASA in FY2026—a reduction of 1.6% from last year but significantly higher than what was proposed by President Trump. Funding includes $2.005 billion for Human Landing System contracts related to lunar missions—an increase over previous years—and $7.25 billion for science programs.
For NSF, lawmakers approved $8.75 billion—more than double what was requested in Trump’s proposal but about 3.85% less than current levels. This allocation supports research grants as well as STEM education initiatives.
NIST receives an increase with $1.85 billion allocated—21% above prior levels—supporting research activities along with manufacturing partnership programs.
In September 2025, Senator Cantwell released a report warning about potential impacts from budget cuts on NASA's mission readiness following reports that Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought had directed early implementation of these reductions.
During a committee hearing earlier that month, Sen. Cantwell said: “The strategic value of maintaining our position to live and work in space is critical,” adding it is vital for economic and national security due to past technological advancements resulting from space investment.
At a May 2025 press conference regarding NSF funding threats, she stated: “We are in an Information Age. We are in an age where there are several areas of U.S. competitiveness that depend on continued science innovation, aerospace being one of those, certainly AI being another, quantum being a third... And all of this is being put into jeopardy by this cut.”
As chairperson of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee—which oversees policy development on commerce, science, and transportation issues according to its official website—Senator Cantwell played a key role in securing R&D authorizations during negotiations over recent science legislation such as the CHIPS & Science Act.
The Senate Commerce Committee operates as a standing body within Congress responsible for reviewing relevant legislation through hearings involving members from both parties (source). Its mandate covers oversight across commerce-related fields including scientific research (source).
