NASA avoided major funding cuts through a spending package approved by Congress this month and signed by President Donald Trump on Friday.
The appropriations package includes $24.4 billion for the agency through the end for the fiscal year, along with earmark funding for a slew of other Hampton Roads projects.
NASA will see a reduction from its fiscal year 2025 budget, which allocated $24.8 billion, including more than $7.2 billion in science funding. However, it’s a vast increase from Trump’s initial budget proposal, which aimed to slash NASA’s funding by nearly a quarter, lay off about a third of its workforce, and cut the agency’s science funding nearly in half.
Now, the agency will retain $7 billion in science funding, as well as $935 million for aeronautics and another roughly $7 billion for space exploration. Additionally, the bill allocates $8.8 billion toward the National Science Foundation, which supports science and engineering efforts across the country.
The legislation consists of three appropriations bills, called Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (which included NASA); Energy and Water Development; and Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. The bill did not go into detail on funding for facilities like NASA Langley Research Center or Wallops Flight Facility, which have seen concerns over staffing and budget cuts in recent months.
The appropriations bill also provides $16 million to Jefferson Labs to continue development of its High Performance Data Facility and $155 million for its Electron Beam Accelerator Facility operation.
Other funding for Hampton Roads projects was included in the appropriations bills in the form of community project funding, also known as earmarks. Those projects include:
Roughly $5.5 million for maintenance dredging from Norfolk Harbor to Craney Island, as well as Thimble Shoal Channel
$4 million for the Elizabeth River and Southern Branch Deepening Project in Norfolk
More than $2.2 million to Suffolk for sewer upgrades
$1 million to create and park with stormwater storage and drains in Virginia Beach
In a statement following the Senate’s approval of the bill, Sen. Mark Warner applauded the funding, which he said will support several important projects in Virginia.
“This federal funding will promote public safety, improve water systems, support conservation efforts and boost science research for communities across the commonwealth,” Warner said in the statement.
Sen. Tim Kaine echoed Warner’s sentiments, saying the funding totals more than $63 million for Virginia projects.
“I am pleased to have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure this important funding, which will support our national parks, expand conservation efforts, accelerate scientific research and much more,” Kaine said in the statement.
Six of the 12 annual spending bills for the current budget year have been signed into law. There is the potential for a partial government shutdown Jan. 30 if another appropriations package is not passed by the Senate.
Complicating the matter, Democratic senators have vowed to oppose a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security following this weekend’s fatal shooting of a Minnesota man by a federal immigration agent.
Devlin Epding, 757-510-4037, devlin.epding@virginiamedia.com