"NASA Told to Spend House Budget Amid Government Shutdown Threat"

Government Shutdown Looms, NASA Receives Temporary Reprieve Amid Budget Uncertainty A government shutdown appears increasingly likely as Congress struggles to pass a final budget for fiscal year 2026, but in a surprise move, NASA's administrator has been directed to use the House budget as a guide, potentially saving several space missions from cancellation. According to sources close to the matter, this decision was made after the White House had instructed mission leaders to prepare for the programs' end due to proposed cuts. The situation with the fiscal year 2026 budget for the United States is, to put it politely, kind of a mess. The White House proposed a budget earlier this year with significant cuts for a number of agencies, including NASA. In the months since then, through the appropriations process, both the House and Senate have proposed their own budget templates. However, Congress has not passed a final budget, and the new fiscal year begins on October 1. The development is seen as a temporary reprieve for NASA's science initiatives, which were facing significant cuts under the White House's proposed budget. According to an internal memo obtained by Ars Technica, NASA's administrator was instructed to prepare for the cancellation of several programs, including the Europa Clipper mission and the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST). However, with the new directive from Congress, these programs may be spared. "This is a win for science," said Dr. Maria Zuber, a planetary scientist at MIT and member of the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Space Research. "The Europa Clipper mission is a critical component of our understanding of the Jupiter system, and its cancellation would have been a significant setback." The move comes as Congress struggles to pass a final budget for fiscal year 2026. A government shutdown appears increasingly likely if a continuing resolution is not passed before October 1. According to sources close to the matter, the House and Senate are still negotiating over the final budget template. While this decision provides temporary relief for NASA's science initiatives, it remains unclear what will happen in the long term. "This is just a Band-Aid solution," said Dr. Zuber. "We need a comprehensive budget that prioritizes science and space exploration." As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the fate of NASA's science initiatives hangs in the balance. With the new fiscal year beginning on October 1, it remains to be seen whether Congress will pass a final budget or opt for a continuing resolution. In a statement, a NASA spokesperson said, "We are grateful for the support of Congress and appreciate their efforts to prioritize science and space exploration. We will continue to work with our partners in Congress to ensure that our programs receive the necessary funding." The situation is fluid, and it remains unclear what the next steps will be. However, one thing is certain: the fate of NASA's science initiatives will be decided in the coming weeks. Sources: Ars Technica: "In a win for science, NASA told to use House budget as shutdown looms" Internal memo obtained by Ars Technica Statement from NASA spokesperson This story was compiled from reports by Ars Technica and Ars Technica.