NASA's Budget Update: A Positive Turn for Science Funding
In a recent update from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), there has been a notable shift in the agency’s budget outlook, particularly concerning various scientific divisions. This news comes as a relief to many within the scientific community, especially in light of previous budget uncertainties that threatened to derail important projects.
As of the week of September 29, 2025, NASA received updated budget guidance from headquarters, which outlines the enactment of the House Appropriations Committee’s numbers under a Continuing Resolution (CR) for fiscal year 2026. This guidance has resulted in a restoration of critical funding across several divisions within NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD). Specifically, the funding allocations have been set as follows: SMD will receive $6 billion, the Heliophysics Division will be allocated $625 million, and the Planetary Science Division is set to receive a substantial $2.5 billion.