Trump Reduces NASA's 2026 Budget, Cuts Largest Space Funds In American History

Trump cut NASA's budget (photo: dock. NASA)

JAKARTA The administration of the US President, Donald Trump, has decided to cut NASA's budget for 2026. On the other hand, the government is actually preparing funding that benefits SpaceX.

Quoted from The Verge report, this budget cuts proposal has been released and the government will cut about a quarter of NASA's budget. This proposal includes a $508 million cut for the ISS and a crew cut.

The Trump administration also cut 2.265 billion US dollars (Rp37.2 trillion) for space science missions, including the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission which is believed to be achieved through the first human flight to the Red Planet.

At the same time, the US government is offering funding of $1 billion for various missions focused on Mars. SpaceX, Elon Musk's company, is believed to be participating in NASA's funding to launch Starship on Mars.

Despite offering more funding for Mars exploration, the local government is still allocating larger funds to support the Artemis program, which is US$7 billion (Rp114 trillion).

Of course, this funding will not be enough because NASA has to sacrifice a few things. In fact, the US space agency is advised to stop developing SLS rockets and Orion capsules, where this mission is believed to end the Lunar Gateway program.

Casey Dreier, Head of the Planetary Society's Space Policy, stated that this is the largest NASA funding cut in American history. Although the goal is good, namely to focus on defeating China on Mars, NASA will be harmed in many ways.