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White House Budget Proposal Seeks Significant Changes for NOAA Programs
DENVER — The White House’s funding plan for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposes substantial modifications to a meteorological satellite initiative and the reassignment of space weather monitoring and space traffic management activities. This budget proposal outlines key revisions for critical NOAA functions.
Draft Budget Details Program Adjustments
NOAA obtained a preliminary version of the fiscal year 2026 budget proposal from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on April 10. This document, known as a passback, allows the agency to request final adjustments to the proposal before its official public release by the administration. Similar to the NASA budget passback, which suggested considerable reductions in its science programs, the NOAA passback indicates major alterations to numerous space-related operations. Among these is the Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) program, which is focused on developing a next-generation suite of weather satellites designed to operate in geostationary orbit starting in the early 2030s.
Major Revisions to GeoXO Weather Satellite Program
Sources familiar with the passback contents indicate that OMB is seeking a “major revision” of the GeoXO program. This restructuring would involve removing instruments deemed to prioritize climate data over weather information, such as those dedicated to studying atmospheric composition and ocean color. OMB asserts that these modifications are intended to decrease the expenses of the GeoXO program. The initiative currently carries an estimated total cost of approximately $20 billion across its 30-year lifespan, encompassing the expenses for six satellites, their instruments, and operational costs.
NASA-NOAA Collaboration on GeoXO Potentially Terminated
The passback also proposes to discontinue the partnership between NASA and NOAA on GeoXO. NASA currently manages the acquisition and technical oversight of the GeoXO satellites and instruments, as well as procuring their launches—a role NASA has historically held in NOAA satellite programs. The potential advantages of ending this collaboration remain unclear, especially considering NOAA’s limited in-house proficiency in satellite development.
Space Weather Center May Shift to Homeland Security
Another element within the NOAA passback involves relocating the Space Weather Prediction Center from NOAA to the Department of Homeland Security. This center is responsible for tracking space weather conditions and disseminating warnings regarding solar storms. The implications of this proposed move for NOAA spacecraft and instruments that supply space weather data are currently uncertain.
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Space Traffic Management System Transfer Proposed
Furthermore, the passback would instruct the Office of Space Commerce, situated within NOAA, to create a plan for transferring the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS), a space traffic coordination system currently under development. This transfer would be to an unspecified “non-government entity,” potentially a private company or a nonprofit organization. The Office of Space Commerce recently highlighted progress on TraCSS, anticipating the full system to be operational by next January. Transferring TraCSS is projected to yield minimal cost savings for the government, as the office requested $75.6 million in its fiscal year 2025 budget proposal, with the majority allocated to TraCSS.
Broader Budgetary Changes and Congressional Reaction
The proposed changes affecting space-related programs at NOAA are part of more extensive modifications for the agency outlined in the passback, largely concentrating on climate initiatives. This focus has raised concerns among numerous scientists and members of Congress. Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), ranking member of the House Science Committee, released a statement criticizing the plan. “Trump’s budget plan for NOAA is both unacceptable and harmful,” she stated, further adding that she would endeavor to prevent “this ill-conceived plan” from being implemented.