More than $300 million in federal science funds are in limbo after President Donald Trump rejected parts of a bipartisan emergency spending package, sparking legal concerns from both parties.
Andres Picon reports for E&E News.
In short:
- Trump approved only 16 of 27 emergency funding provisions from a recent congressional stopgap bill, rejecting others that included science-related funding.
- The National Science Foundation could lose $234 million, which was slated for a Texas-based AI research facility and infrastructure upgrades in Antarctica.
- NOAA stands to lose $100 million for new weather satellites and radar, as the White House continues targeting both agencies for cuts.
Key quote:
“Regardless of our views on [recent spending laws and agreements], it is incumbent on all of us to follow the law as written — not as we would like it to be.”
— Senators Patty Murray and Susan Collins, ranking member and chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, respectively
Why this matters:
Federal science agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration don’t just fund academic projects or put satellites into space — they are cornerstones of national preparedness. Debates over budget priorities in Congress have led to delayed appropriations and, in some cases, significant cuts to their operational capacity. The consequences build over time, weakening the nation’s ability to act on the best available science.
Related: Opinion: Cuts to NOAA threaten U.S. climate research and weather forecasting
