Senate Appropriators Propose $24.9 Billion for NASA, Rejecting Deep Administration Cuts

The Senate Appropriations Committee released its FY2027 Commerce-Justice-Science bill on the evening of November 12, proposing $24.874 billion for NASA. The figure sits slightly above the $24.438 billion Congress approved for FY2026 and far exceeds the $18.8 billion the Trump Administration requested.

The bill arrives as NASA works through a major reorganization implemented earlier this year that merged or rearranged mission directorates and the agency's budget structure. The subcommittee's report explains that those changes came too late and lacked sufficient detail to be incorporated into this bill.

The Senate CJS bill was among five FY2027 measures released that evening, with two additional bills released on Tuesday. The legislation also funds the Department of Commerce, including NOAA, the Department of Justice, and the National Science Foundation. The subcommittee recommended $7.43 billion for NASA science programs. On Mars Sample Return, the subcommittee said it supports the effort to the extent it serves as a critical strategic demonstration of the technologies, systems, and operational capabilities required for future human missions to Mars, as well as to return samples for scientific inquiry. It directed NASA to integrate MSR into the Moon-to-Mars program as a proving ground for human exploration rather than as a standalone science mission.

The House Appropriations Committee approved its version of the CJS bill on May 13, though it has not passed the House. Like the Senate, the House rejected the deep cuts proposed by the Administration, recommending $24.4 billion. That bill cleared committee on a party-line vote after Democrats objected to provisions in the Commerce and Justice sections. During subcommittee markup, Democrats also opposed the funding level for NASA science programs at $6 billion. That figure was $2 billion above the $3.9 billion requested but $1.3 billion below FY2026.

The Senate subcommittee's recommendation signals where appropriators want to hold or grow NASA spending, setting a topline that shapes programs across the agency. The $24.874 billion mark stands as the Senate's position in the budget cycle, well above the Administration's request and the House committee figure.

A schedule for the full committee to consider the subcommittee recommendations has not been announced. None of the 12 FY2027 appropriations bills have cleared Congress. The government is operating under a Continuing Resolution that expires on December 11.