White House Budget Proposes Major Cuts to NASA Programs, Phases Out SLS and Orion

The Trump administration's proposed fiscal 2026 budget calls for phasing out NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule after two or three more flights, citing cost overruns and delays. The proposal would slash NASA's overall budget by nearly 25%, with the Mars Sample Return mission and the Lunar Gateway project also slated for termination. While the cuts significantly impact NASA's science and Earth science portfolios, the budget increases funding for human space exploration, prioritizing efforts to return humans to the Moon ahead of China and to send the first humans to Mars. The administration plans to shift lunar missions to more cost-effective commercial alternatives and redirect resources to Mars-focused programs. These changes represent the largest single-year cut to NASA in history and indicate a major realignment of the agency's priorities toward human exploration over science and technology research. The proposal is an initial step in the budget process and will require Congressional approval.