Importance Score: 75 / 100 🔴
Asteroid Threat or Budget Cuts? House Hearing Diverts to NASA Funding Woes
WASHINGTON — A House hearing intended to focus on NASA’s approach to the hazards of asteroid impacts shifted unexpectedly to a discussion about the potential effects of proposed NASA budget reductions. The hearing underscores the critical role of planetary defense and the potential impact of budget constraints on space exploration and asteroid detection efforts.
Planetary Defense Takes Center Stage
The May 15 hearing by the House Science Committee’s space subcommittee primarily addressed NASA’s initiatives to identify and monitor potentially hazardous asteroids. These efforts, along with strategies to mitigate potential impacts, are collectively known as planetary defense.
Funding Allocation for Asteroid Monitoring
NASA requested $276.6 million for planetary defense in its fiscal year 2025 budget proposal, slightly exceeding 1% of the agency’s aggregate budget. The majority of these funds are intended for the Near Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission. This infrared space telescope will offer a more efficient approach for detecting asteroids compared to ground-based observatories.
Elevated Awareness of Potential Asteroid Impacts
While NASA’s investment in planetary defense is relatively modest compared to its overall funding, the endeavor has gained significant attention. This was highlighted earlier in the year when asteroid 2024 YR4 was briefly assessed to have a greater than 3% chance of colliding with Earth in 2032. Subsequent and ongoing observations of the asteroid’s trajectory have effectively eliminated any potential impact in 2032 or in the foreseeable future.
Congressional Support for Planetary Defense
“Planetary defense is one of the most important objectives” of the agency, stated Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.), chairman of the subcommittee. He referenced a recent Pew Research Center survey that indicated planetary defense “was the highest priority of American citizens.”
Budget Cut Concerns Emerge
While the hearing acknowledged the importance of planetary defense, Democratic members steered the discussion toward proposed budget reductions impacting NASA’s science program in the White House’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal. Nicky Fox, NASA associate administrator for science, was among the witnesses questioned about the impact of the cuts.
Impact of Budget Cuts on NASA’s Mission
“This budget, if enacted, would strip away NASA’s storied leadership, disrupt decades of progress in U.S. space exploration and cripple the agency’s ability to pursue bold and ambitious goals going forward,” stated Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.), ranking member of the subcommittee.
Interagency Cooperation at Risk
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), ranking member of the full committee, noted that planetary defense requires NASA to partner with other agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, all of which are facing significant funding cuts in the proposed budget. She questioned, “Will anyone be home to answer the call if a NEO were found to be on a trajectory headered towards to Earth?”
Limited Details on Budget Impact
Members received limited specifics about the potential impact of the proposed budget on NASA science. Fox indicated that she had only seen the initial budget framework released by the Office of Management and Budget on May 2, which calls for a 24% decrease in overall NASA spending from 2025 levels.
Mission-Specific Guidance Awaited
“We have not seen any details on the missions or any direction on the missions other than the Mars Sample Return program and Landsat Next,” she clarified. The framework specifically mentioned canceling Mars Sample Return and restructuring Landsat Next but did not reference other science missions. “We await the full president’s budget so we can see the priorities and direction on which missions may be supported or not supported.”
NEO Surveyor’s Fate Uncertain
This uncertainty extends to the NEO Surveyor. At the hearing, Fox and Amy Mainzer, a professor at the University of California Los Angeles who leads the mission, verified that progress on NEO Surveyor is proceeding well, with the mission still scheduled to launch no later than June 2028, possibly as early as the fall of 2027.
Impact Assessment Pending
“We have not seen the details of the budget yet” and how it might affect the mission, said Mainzer. “From my perspective, we do not know the impact yet.”
No Action Mandated Yet
“We’ve had no direction to take any action based on the ’26 skinny budget,” Fox added, noting that the mission is currently “well-funded.”
Research Grant Delays
Members also questioned Fox about NASA’s research funding. Typically, the agency issues a broad call for grant proposals, known as Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES), each February. However, the most recent solicitation is delayed by three months.
Uncertainty Causes Halt
“I made the decision to pause the ROSES,” Fox explained, citing uncertainty regarding funding levels in the fiscal year 2026 budget proposal. With the publication of the initial budget framework, she said NASA is finalizing edits to ROSES. “My intention is to get that through final approval and out hopefully as early as the end of this month.”