In a surprising shake-up of the U.S. space agenda, President Donald Trump’s proposed 2026 budget seeks to drastically cut funding for NASA’s moon program, redirecting resources toward a mission to Mars. The budget outline, released on Friday, suggests a $6 billion reduction for NASA, including the cancellation of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion crew capsule projects after their third mission in 2027.
The proposed cuts amount to a 24% reduction from NASA’s current $24.8 billion budget, threatening major science programs and affecting thousands of researchers worldwide. The move could disrupt existing contracts with established aerospace companies and impact international partnerships with agencies like the European Space Agency, Canada, and Japan.
“This proposed cut would represent a historic step backward for American leadership in space science, exploration, and innovation,” said the Planetary Society, a space policy organization founded by renowned scientist Bill Nye.
While nearly all parts of NASA face deep cuts, the budget proposes a $1 billion boost for “Mars-focused programs,” signaling a shift toward SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s long-held vision of sending humans to the Red Planet. Musk, a close advisor to President Trump and a significant contributor to his campaign, has been a vocal advocate for Mars exploration.
The Artemis program, initiated during Trump’s first administration, aimed to return humans to the moon before other nations could achieve the same goal. The program has been a collaborative effort involving numerous private companies and international partners. The proposed budget cuts could jeopardize these collaborations and the future of lunar exploration.
The cancellation of the SLS and Orion projects would also impact major contractors like Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin, who are currently building components for future Artemis missions. Lockheed Martin’s vice president of human space exploration, Kirk Shireman, expressed surprise at the announcement. “We are working to accelerate our production for Artemis missions and have been encouraged by NASA to continue,” he said.
The budget plan includes the cancellation of the Gateway station, a lunar orbiting platform designed to serve as a research station and transfer point for missions to the moon’s surface. Components of the Gateway station already built could be repurposed for other missions, according to NASA.
Trump’s nominee for NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, a billionaire private astronaut and SpaceX customer, echoed similar ideas during his confirmation hearing last month. Isaacman is expected to be confirmed by the Senate later this month.
The budget proposal reflects a balancing act between maintaining the current moon program under pressure from Congress and the space industry, and shifting focus to Mars exploration as advocated by Musk and his supporters.
International collaborations could also be affected. Last year, NASA and Japan signed an agreement to include Japanese astronauts on future Artemis moon missions, a significant step in the U.S.-Japan alliance.
The proposed budget cuts have raised concerns among scientists and industry experts about the future of U.S. leadership in space exploration. As the global space race intensifies, the repercussions of this budget proposal could have far-reaching implications for the international space community.
