On July 10, 2025, the U.S. Senate appropriations committee approved a $24.9 billion budget for NASA, effectively rejecting the Trump administration's proposed 47% cut and maintaining funding levels for key science programs.

This bipartisan support, backed by Senators Jerry Moran and Chris Van Hollen, aims to preserve NASA's crucial missions, including the Artemis program and lunar exploration efforts.

The Senate bill also supports the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), with the NSF budget only decreasing by 0.67%, contrasting sharply with Trump's proposed 57% cut.

However, the bill still needs to pass the House of Representatives and be signed by the President before becoming law, with ongoing negotiations and potential delays.

Budget negotiations are ongoing, and there is concern over a possible government shutdown if consensus is not reached between the Senate and the White House.

Senator Moran emphasized that the bill protects vital science missions, reflecting bipartisan commitment to maintaining U.S. leadership in space and scientific research.

Supporters highlight that the funding will bolster projects like Artemis II, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually explore Mars, while safeguarding critical systems like the Space Launch System.

The funding is also seen as a strategic move to preserve jobs tied to NASA contracts, especially in states like California, Maryland, and Texas.

Despite the progress, some issues remain, such as the controversy over relocating the space shuttle Discovery to Houston, which has led to delays and debates over costs.

Senator Van Hollen stressed that the bill enhances climate change research, aeronautics, and NASA's operational missions, emphasizing its broader scientific and economic importance.

The bill's passage was complicated by disputes over the FBI headquarters location, with a proposed amendment to prevent relocating the FBI to Greenbelt, Maryland, narrowly passing but causing delays.

Trump's earlier proposed budget included drastic cuts to NASA's science budget, threatening over 40 missions, including the Juno and New Horizons spacecraft, which experts criticized as detrimental to U.S. scientific leadership.

All seven former NASA science chiefs opposed Trump's proposed cuts, which also aimed to reduce the agency's staff and funding by nearly half, sparking bipartisan opposition.