In a win for science, NASA told to use House budget as shutdown looms

The House budget for NASA, which is currently awaiting the President's signature, represents a win for science. Although the budget still includes cuts to certain scientific programs, the reductions are not as severe as those proposed by the White House. The House budget allocates $21.5 billion to NASA, a slight increase from the previous year's funding. This includes continued support for the agency's flagship programs, such as the James Webb Space Telescope and the Orion spacecraft. Additionally, the budget maintains funding for Earth science and planetary exploration missions, which were at risk of significant cuts under the White House's proposal. While the House budget is not a perfect solution, it represents a compromise that preserves the core of NASA's scientific endeavors. This is particularly important as the federal government faces the looming threat of a partial shutdown, which could further jeopardize the agency's operations and research.