Orion spacecraft on the second day of the Artemis II mission. Credit: NASA
By Kritika Agarwal
In a bill released on April 29, the House Appropriations Committee proposed cutting funding for the National Science Foundation and NASA’s Science Mission Directorate – two of the nation’s premier science-funding agencies that support cutting-edge university research, help train the next generation of scientists and engineers, and drive innovation and economic growth across the country.
While the House’s proposed cuts are less extensive than those proposed by the president in his FY27 budget request, if enacted, the House bill would inflict serious harm on the American scientific research enterprise.
What’s in the House bill?
The House’s FY27 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill provides:
- $7 billion to the National Science Foundation (a cut of 20%, or $1.75 billion, from the previous fiscal year), including:
- $6.4 billion for research and related activities (a cut of 10%, or $736 million, from FY26).
- $173 million for major research equipment and facilities (a cut of 31%, or $78 million, from FY26).
- $30.5 million for the national science board; a 40% or $20.4 million cut for FY26.
- $6 billion to NASA Science (a cut of 17.2%, or $1.25 billion, from FY26), as well as:
- $850 million to NASA Aeronautics (a cut of 9.1%, or $85 million, from FY26).
- $913 million to NASA Space Technology (a cut of 0.8%, or $7 million, from FY26.
- $58 million for NASA’s Space Grant program (no change from FY26).
The House bill shows that, once again, Congress does not appear to have the appetite to cut research funding to the extent that the White House is proposing. Nonetheless, funding levels included in the House bill would be insufficient to help the United States keep up with China, which recently took the lead in research and development investments.
On a positive note, Section 542 of the FY27 Commerce-Justice-Science bill preserves language from last year’s bill instructing the Department of Commerce, NASA, and the NSF to continue to apply the negotiated indirect cost rates for institutions of higher education to the same extent and in the same manner as such negotiated indirect cost rates were applied in FY24.
AAU’s recommendations
For FY27, AAU is urging Congress to fund the NSF at $9.9 billion. The NSF is a leading source of federal funding for science and engineering research, and is unique because of its commitment to supporting fundamental, curiosity-driven research that generates new knowledge and drives long-term innovation. NSF-funded research, for example, has led to advances in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, MRI technology, gene editing, and 3D printing − technologies that have led to better health and greater prosperity and security for all Americans.
AAU is also urging Congress to provide $9 billion for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, as well as increases for other critical NASA research and education programs in FY27. The NASA Science Mission Directorate plays a vital role in supporting university research that advances fundamental understanding of our planet and universe, yields useful knowledge in areas like space weather and planetary defense, and inspires the next generation of scientists. As a recent letter from the Coalition for Aerospace and Science noted, this funding level for the Science Mission Directorate “would sustain a balanced science portfolio that drives innovation, supports investigator-led research and new competitive mission opportunities, and ensures U.S. leadership and global competitiveness in space science.”
What comes next
The House Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Subcommittee approved the bill during its markup on April 30. The bill now heads to the full House Appropriations Committee, which is scheduled to consider it on May 13. Following the full committee markup, the bill will head to the House floor for a vote.
The Senate, however, is widely expected to provide higher funding levels for both agencies in its version of the Commerce-Justice-Science bill. Last year, the final funding levels for both NSF and NASA Science that Congress ultimately approved matched the Senate’s numbers. It is likely that Congress will, once again, decline implementing massive cuts to science.
AAU looks forward to working with members of Congress to ensure that funding levels for NSF and NASA Science remain robust and continue to advance America’s scientific leadership and innovation.
Kritika Agarwal is assistant vice president for communications at AAU.