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Congress rejects Trump's historic science cuts

Congress rejects Trump's historic science cuts

Rule Changes

Bipartisan Supermajority Preserves Funding for NASA, NSF, and DOE Despite Proposed Reductions of Up to 57%

January 30th, 2026: Trump Signs Science Funding Bill

Overview

For 80 years, federal science funding enjoyed bipartisan protection. Trump's fiscal year 2026 budget proposed ending that consensus, calling for cuts of 57% to the National Science Foundation (NSF), 47% to NASA's science programs, and 40% to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Congress said no. On January 30, 2026, Trump signed a spending bill preserving most science agency budgets, passed 397-28 in the House and 82-15 in the Senate. The gap between what the president requested and what Congress appropriated is one of the largest executive-legislative divergences on science policy in modern history.

NSF received $8.75 billion instead of the proposed $3.9 billion; NASA science got $7.25 billion rather than $3.9 billion. The Department of Energy's Office of Science received an increase to $8.4 billion. Combined with supplemental funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, NASA's total budget of $27.53 billion is its largest since 1998 in inflation-adjusted terms.

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Key Indicators

$8.75B
NSF Budget (FY2026)
3.4% cut from FY2025, versus the proposed 57% reduction to $3.9B
$27.53B
Total NASA Budget (FY2026)
Largest since FY1998 in inflation-adjusted terms, combining appropriations and reconciliation funding
82-15
Senate Vote
Bipartisan supermajority passed the funding package, with 82 senators supporting
7,800+
Research Grants Disrupted (2025)
Grants canceled or suspended during 2025, totaling nearly $1.4B in lost funding

Voices

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People Involved

Susan Collins
Susan Collins
Led bipartisan negotiations on science funding package
 Patty Murray
Patty Murray
Led Democratic negotiations on science funding
 Tom Cole
Tom Cole
Led House passage of FY2026 appropriations bills

Organizations Involved

National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
Federal Agency
Received $8.75B for FY2026, avoiding proposed 57% cut

Independent federal agency funding approximately 25% of all federally supported basic research at U.S. colleges and universities.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
U.S. federal agency
Received $24.44B in appropriations plus $10B supplemental from One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Federal agency responsible for U.S. civil space program, aeronautics research, and space science.
Department of Energy Office of Science
Department of Energy Office of Science
Federal Funding Agency
Received $8.4B for FY2026, a 2% increase despite proposed cuts

Largest federal sponsor of basic research in physical sciences, operating 17 national laboratories.
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
Federal Agency
Appropriations bill provides $48.7B, a $415M increase over FY2025

World's largest public funder of biomedical research, comprising 27 institutes and centers.

Timeline

January 2025 January 2026

12 events Latest: January 30th, 2026 · 4 months ago Showing 8 of 12
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  1. Trump Signs Science Funding Bill

    Latest Legislation

    President Trump signs H.R. 6938 into law, enacting science agency budgets that largely preserve funding despite his proposed cuts. The White House had indicated senior advisors would recommend signing.

  2. Senate Passes Funding Package 82-15

    Legislation

    Senate approves the minibus with overwhelming bipartisan support. NSF receives $8.75B (vs. $3.9B proposed), NASA $24.44B, and DOE Office of Science $8.4B (a 2% increase).

  3. House Passes Science Funding Minibus 397-28

    Legislation

    The House passes H.R. 6938, a three-bill package funding Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water; and Interior agencies for FY2026. Only 28 members vote against.

  4. Shutdown Ends After 43 Days

    Budget Crisis

    Trump signs bill ending the record-setting shutdown. NIH receives temporary funding through January 30, 2026. During the shutdown, 75% of NIH staff were furloughed and no new grants were issued.

  5. Government Shutdown Begins

    Budget Crisis

    Federal government shuts down as Congress fails to pass appropriations bills. The shutdown, driven by disputes over healthcare tax credits, will last 43 days—the longest in U.S. history.

  6. Congress Releases Appropriations Bills Rejecting Trump Cuts

    Legislation

    House and Senate appropriations committees release FY2026 bills that largely preserve science agency budgets, ignoring the administration's proposed reductions.

  7. One Big Beautiful Bill Act Signed

    Legislation

    Trump signs reconciliation bill including $10 billion for NASA programs over six years—funding for Artemis, the International Space Station, and other priorities the administration had proposed cutting.

  8. Court Strikes Down NSF Indirect Cost Cap

    Legal

    Federal Judge Indira Talwani rules NSF's 15% cap is "arbitrary and capricious" and violates federal law. Courts have now blocked indirect cost caps at all four agencies that imposed them.

  9. Trump Releases FY2026 Budget Proposal

    Budget

    Administration proposes cutting NSF by 57% (to $3.9B), NASA science by 47% (to $3.9B), NIH by 40% (to $27.5B), and DOE Office of Science by 14%. Scientists and universities describe the proposal as an existential threat.

  10. NSF Caps Indirect Cost Rates at 15%

    Policy Change

    NSF announces it will reimburse universities only 15% for indirect costs, down from typical negotiated rates of 50-65%. Universities sue, arguing the cap is arbitrary and violates federal law.

  11. DOGE Suspends Research Grants

    Administration Action

    DOGE begins suspending and canceling grants at NIH and NSF. Over the course of 2025, more than 7,800 grants are disrupted, with 2,600 ultimately terminated representing nearly $1.4 billion in lost funding.

  12. Trump Inaugurated, DOGE Begins Agency Reviews

    Administration Action

    President Trump's second term begins. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) starts reviewing federal contracts and grants across science agencies.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

November 1995 - January 1996

Gingrich Congress Budget Battles (1995-1996)

After Republicans took control of Congress in 1994, Speaker Newt Gingrich pushed for deep spending cuts including elimination of the Office of Technology Assessment and reductions to NASA and NSF. President Clinton vetoed the spending bill, triggering two government shutdowns totaling 27 days. The standoff ended with Congress largely accepting Clinton's budget.

Then

Republicans abandoned most proposed science cuts. The Office of Technology Assessment was eliminated, but NASA and NSF budgets were preserved. Public polling blamed Republicans for the shutdown.

Now

Gingrich later became an advocate for doubling research spending. The episode established that shutdowns carry political costs for the party perceived as causing them.

Why this matters now

Like in 1995, a president signed spending bills that rejected his party's proposed science cuts after a lengthy shutdown. Both cases demonstrated that bipartisan support for federal research can override executive preferences.

1945 - 1950

Post-World War II Research Establishment (1945-1950)

Vannevar Bush's report "Science—The Endless Frontier" proposed federal funding for basic research, leading to creation of the National Science Foundation in 1950. Senator Harley Kilgore and Bush debated whether scientists or elected officials should control research priorities. The compromise created an independent agency with presidential appointment of leadership.

Then

NSF was established with a $3.5 million first-year budget. The Atomic Energy Commission and NIH were expanded, creating the modern federal research enterprise.

Now

For 80 years, federal science funding enjoyed bipartisan growth through Democratic and Republican administrations alike, becoming what analysts call the foundation of American technological leadership.

Why this matters now

The Trump administration's proposed cuts represented the first serious challenge to this 80-year consensus. Congress's bipartisan rejection reaffirmed the post-war compact that federal research investment transcends partisan politics.

1981 - 1989

Reagan-Era Defense vs. Civilian Research (1981-1989)

President Reagan prioritized defense research and the Strategic Defense Initiative ("Star Wars") while proposing cuts to civilian science. Congress consistently restored funding for NSF, NIH, and other agencies. Reagan's science advisor George Keyworth established the White House Science Council to provide bipartisan input on research priorities.

Then

Civilian research budgets held steady despite proposed cuts. Defense R&D grew significantly.

Now

The pattern of executive proposals and congressional restoration became routine. NIH budget doubled between 1998-2003 with bipartisan support.

Why this matters now

The Reagan precedent showed that presidents can propose science cuts but Congress typically restores them. The 2026 outcome follows this pattern but at unprecedented scale—the gap between proposed and enacted funding was larger than in any Reagan-era budget.

Sources

(12)
+6
NBC News American Astronomical Society U.S. Senate Commerce Committee House Appropriations Committee Nature Science The Planetary Society Chemical & Engineering News STAT News Wikipedia American Institute of Physics Wikipedia