NASA's Science Missions Face Unexpected Funding Freeze

NASA has been asked to hit the brakes on spending for over 15 science projects. This pause comes from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), even though Congress recently approved a budget that restored NASA's funding. The projects on hold include some big names, like the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, which was almost canceled in the White House's 2026 budget proposal. The White House's initial budget plan for 2026 was quite harsh. It proposed cutting NASA's budget by $6 billion compared to 2025. This would have been the biggest single-year cut in NASA's history. The planetary science budget was set to take a big hit, dropping from $2. 7 billion to $1. 9 billion. But Congress stepped in and saved the day. In January, they passed a budget bill that rejected most of the proposed cuts. This bill gives NASA $24. 4 billion, the same amount they got in 2024 and 2025. This is way more than the $18. 8 billion the White House suggested for 2026.However, the recent directive from OMB suggests that NASA's science missions might still be in trouble. The email from NASA headquarters asked centers to limit financial commitments on these projects. This means no new contracts, no credit card purchases, and no travel requests related to these missions. The projects on hold are important ones. They include missions to study Earth's atmosphere and climate, as well as efforts to observe Venus and other potentially habitable worlds. The pause is expected to last about 10 business days, but it could be extended. This situation raises questions about the future of NASA's science missions. Despite Congress's efforts to restore funding, the current administration seems to be putting these projects on hold. It's a reminder that the fight for NASA's budget is far from over.