Is NASA's science budget heading for a black hole?
- Reference: 1741699852
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/03/11/nasa_science_budget_comment/
- Source link:
This comes shortly after the agency was told to get ready to [1]lay off 1,000 employees . That threat was removed, possibly at the behest of the incoming Administrator Jared Isaacman. Still, [2]according to The Planetary Society , budget belt-tightening would be "an extinction event for space science and exploration in the United States."
Dramatic? Not really. Should the cuts come to pass, NASA's science budget would fall off a cliff so steep that even a [3]Tesla shareholder might say "steady on." Estimates from The Planetary Society show that funding could drop to levels not seen since 1985.
[4]
Former Voyager scientist Dr Garry Hunt told The Register that such a deep financial laceration, if enacted, "would be catastrophic for both current and planned missions."
[5]
[6]
"I know from my JPL colleagues they are worried about the NASA cuts, which could impact future programs and their activities," he said.
NASA has been responsible for groundbreaking scientific achievements over the years, with flagship projects such as the New Horizons probe's Pluto encounter and the technological tour de force of the James Webb Space Telescope. However, these triumphs all require funding. If budget shrinkage is implemented, some difficult decisions must be made. Even the veteran Voyager project could be on the chopping block.
[7]
Hunt said: "In my opinion, it would be stupid for there to be any meddling with the Voyager budget, especially at this stage of this incredible mission."
Isaacman professed ignorance of the "supposed cuts," [8]saying in a social media statement: "The President said he's targeting fraud, waste and abuse with a scalpel – not a hatchet."
While Isaacman urged people to ignore rumor and speculation, the turmoil surrounding NASA appears to be having an effect. A source at another space agency told The Register that morale at NASA is understanably falling.
[9]
It is entirely possible the budget reduction will not be as severe as feared, and the 50 percent figure is being used to test the water and gauge reaction. It is hard to imagine Congress waving through such drastic action.
That said, other changes are in the works at NASA. In a memo obtained by unofficial agency watchdog [10]NASAWatch , Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro told staff that as part of the Trump administration's efficiency drive, a reduction in force (RIF) was now underway.
[11]UK must give more to ESA to get benefits of space industry boom, says Brian Cox
[12]NASA's on-again, off-again job cuts – what's the plan?
[13]NASA solar mission data recovering after server room flood fiasco
[14]NASA spacewalkers to swab the ISS for microbial life
"We will close NASA's Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy [OTPS], the Office of the Chief Scientist, and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility [DEIA] branch in the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, along with reducing their workforce."
While the DEIA elimination is unsurprising given the Trump administration's antipathy toward such programs, the loss of the Office of the Chief Scientist and the [15]OTPS will be a blow.
The memo continues: "While this will mean making difficult adjustments, we're viewing this as an opportunity to reshape our workforce, ensuring we are doing what is statutorily required of us, while also providing American citizens with an efficient and effective agency. Embrace the Challenge."
The Register contacted NASA to confirm the memo and the number of roles that would be affected, but we have yet to receive a response from the agency.
Isaacman is correct that any budget changes are unconfirmed. However, the trajectory seems clear. A reduction in NASA's science budget is likely to be on the way, along with some potentially painful decisions.
The agency Isaacman will eventually is likely to look quite different from the one his predecessor left behind. ®
Get our [16]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/20/nasa_comment_piece/
[2] https://www.planetary.org/press-releases/cuts-to-nasa-planetary-society-statement
[3] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/10/tesla-shares-plunge-14percent-head-for-worst-day-in-five-years.html
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Z9BsMIp0bT2mC0zlRIe3cAAAAEY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Z9BsMIp0bT2mC0zlRIe3cAAAAEY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Z9BsMIp0bT2mC0zlRIe3cAAAAEY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Z9BsMIp0bT2mC0zlRIe3cAAAAEY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://x.com/rookisaacman/status/1898488480000319713
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Z9BsMIp0bT2mC0zlRIe3cAAAAEY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] https://nasawatch.com/ask-the-administrator/the-nasa-rif-has-begun/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/06/uk_needs_to_contribute_more/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/20/nasa_comment_piece/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/07/nasa_solar_mission_data_recovering/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/22/nasa_spacewalkers_microbes/
[15] https://www.nasa.gov/otps/otps-about-us/
[16] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Wow
"to be followed by a dictatorship"
Sadly people mistake the identity of the true dictator. Those constantly bleating on about 'our democracy', funding anti-government actors in other countries, funding the activists and rent-a-mob who are currently smashing up private property... AGAIN....
Re: Wow
"as long as we can afford it"
Can people afford to be spending so much time posting such oeuvres on El Reg...?
Re: Wow
In the US (and other countries whose debts are denominated in their own sovereign fiat currency, e.g. the UK, Japan etc.), (federal) taxes don't pay for anything, they serve only to remove excess money from the economy. Politicians like to pretend that a government is like a household, but households can't print their own money. The US literally cannot run out of money, spending is a purely political choice. it's only when it exceeds the productive capacity of the economy that you get inflation. Read up on Modern Monetary Theory.
Re: Wow
@Uncle Slacky
"taxes don't pay for anything, they serve only to remove excess money from the economy."
Something governments are not very good at hence the inflation. People like freebee but dont like having it confiscated. So the spaffing of cash happens but the taxing is difficult. The deficit being the difference between how much government we want and how much we are willing to pay for.
"The US literally cannot run out of money, spending is a purely political choice. it's only when it exceeds the productive capacity of the economy that you get inflation."
This is where people get confused with money having the value instead of the value money represents. You can run out of money, Zimbabwe managed to print a large denomination note that cost more to print than its value. The UK is struggling as it hits borrowing limits. The US can do the same. The idea it isnt like a household but instead a magic money tree has been the downfall of currencies and economies around the world and we should learn a lesson from that.
The US is running on continuing resolutions instead of actual budgets just to function.
Flow Check
Last sentence:
"The agency Isaacman will eventually is likely to look quite different from the one his predecessor left behind"
should probably be:
"The agency Isaacman will eventually lead is likely to look quite different from the one his predecessor left behind"
Re: Flow Check
According to the budget cuts, there will be no means to lead
Re: Flow Check
If you read any of the NASA-tracking sites here in the US, it's not at all clear that Mr, Isaacman will ever lead the agency. Evidently, he has committed the mortal sin of starting several companies that offer diversity training, as well as other sins against the fascist, er, Republican core beliefs.
NASA
Not Any Space Any-more.
Re: NASA
It's heading towards - Need Another SpaceX Assist!
Re: NASA
Never Again Space Agency
Embrace the Challenge
What a f'ing horrible way to end that message.
Does management anywhere seriously believe that sort of claptrap actually helps the morale of any of their staff?
Re: Embrace the Challenge
I look forward to him embracing the challenge of living in a tent on a street corner!
NASA needs to add new boilerplate to mission statements
that each off-planet mission will, somehow, attempt to image Trump's ego from space. He will readily approve all of them.
However: given the size of his ego it will not be hard to find, I just hope that it will not crack some of the expensive optics.
Re: NASA needs to add new boilerplate to mission statements
...somehow, attempt to image Trump's ego...
No camera system can capture that size. You would need to be outside the universe to observe the extend of that ego.
Re: NASA needs to add new boilerplate to mission statements
Perhaps we're all living in Trump's personal Total Perspective Vortex?
Re: NASA needs to add new boilerplate to mission statements
That would explain a lot.
All part of the plan
Of course the Orange Cockwomble wants to kneecap NASA. Isn’t it obvious? If he does that then the US will have to turn to someone else for space stuff.
Such as (and this is just a random shot in the dark) the Orange Twat’s bestie?
Re: All part of the plan
Why do we need NASA ? The bible has the truth about how everything is created !
Re: All part of the plan
You'll have to remind me which book of the Bible gives the explanation of quantum chromodynamics? I just need to go check something.
Re: All part of the plan
There are different plans. Trump's plan is to replace the top level of military officers with toadies and have the armed forces shoot anyone who objects. Musk's plan is to have complete control of money and payments systems. Soldiers will have to choose between obeying orders and getting paid. Which ever way that turns out it will not involve SpaceX getting payed for government contracts. No taxes, no government so no contracts. Instead all payments will go through X. Americans' bank balances will be what Musk decides they can keep and he will take the rest.
Re: All part of the plan
"choose between obeying orders and getting paid"
So like when they fired federal employees and military personnel for refusing to take the covid vaxx?
Wow
"Dare mighty things ... as long as we can afford it"
That is a fantastic subheading that makes the serious point for all of government spending. At some point I hope our government realises this too but there are things we need, things we want and the real world limitation of resources (often manpower) to put into these things. We cant do everything it just stretches us too thin and leaves us vulnerable.
Note this isnt a comment about NASA funding specifically. If people dont want the cut I get it. They could offer up their own money instead of expecting tax to do everything, or they can accept that tax money cant go to other frivolities so it can be redirected to NASA (for example).
I think financial education is schools should be a mandatory thing as so few seem to understand such limits.
“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the people discover they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the canidate promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy--to be followed by a dictatorship.”
― Alexander Fraser Tytler Woodhouselee