White House Budget Threatens 54 NASA Science Missions

Key Points

• 54 NASA science missions face defunding under FY 2027 budget proposal
• Earth science and heliophysics departments would lose 17 missions each
• Jupiter probe and Venus missions DAVINCI and VERITAS at risk
• Proposed 47% cut to NASA's science department

Full Details

An analysis by The Planetary Society reveals that the White House budget request for fiscal year 2027 could jeopardize 54 NASA science missions. The proposed cuts would particularly impact Earth science and heliophysics departments, with 17 proposed mission cancellations in each. High-profile missions at risk include the Juno spacecraft currently studying Jupiter and two planned Venus missions: DAVINCI and VERITAS. The budget would also withdraw support for international collaborations like the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) and ATHENA X-ray observatory. These proposed cancellations represent a potential 47% cut to NASA's science department budget, fundamentally altering the agency's scientific capabilities.