File:The biggest science cut in NASA history.jpg

It eviscerates NASA's science program

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is the agency’s primary arm for scientific discovery and research, operating a fleet of space-based observatories, planetary probes, and Earth-monitoring satellites that explore everything from our home planet to the distant Universe.... NASA science is the primary source of funding for fundamental scientific and technology research. It is a unique activity, something not pursued by the private sector, with unmatched capabilities. The White House proposes to cut it by nearly half.

• https://www.planetary.org/articles/nasa-2026-budget-proposal-in-charts

* https://greenpolicy360.net/w/File:Tracking_science_policy_across_the_Trump_administration.png

Decades of Vital Science, Knowledge, and Essential Guidance for Decision-Making, Interrupted and Lost

Future generations will look back, consider and judge the US of the Trump years

GreenPolicy360 siterunner: I can see back to the beginning of a NASA Earth Observation "Inventory" and a Congressman named George E. Brown shepherding a new generation of NASA science program into reality. This began in earnest in the late 1970s and thru the 80s and 90s, forming a profoundly important and critical programs, imaging, systems, programs/projects, educational collaborations (hello JPL!), a vast and ongoing database/evolving updated datasets of earth science information.

A constellation of satellite remote sensing capabilities were envisioned and developed, with a first-generation of digital scanning cameras put in orbit. The Landsat mission, that George was key to launching and managing over the years, flew and changed the way we saw all of the Earth and its changing, dynamic systems with far-reaching natural- and human impacts.

• https://greenpolicy360.net/w/Landsat_data_users_handbook
• https://greenpolicy360.net/w/LANDSAT_and_Virginia_Tower_Norwood

As George came to be known as 'Mr. Science' in Congress, he saw the challenges and the need for solutions to problems facing the United States and environmental systems changing impacting all of humanity. I personally remember years of learning, sharing and work alongside a congressman who set in motion a foundation of scientific observation and studies to build on... As Congressional committee oversight chair and a senior member, George brought a background in physics and engineering with him. He had the 'right stuff' as those who were out in front at NASA were called.

Your GreenPolicy360 siterunner began to realize the future to come when our East LA Representative showed me documents and spoke of the Mission Statement of NASA.

I considered George as a man on a mission then, he was following mission-critical guidance...

“To understand and protect our home planet..."

Here's a tip of our green hat to George Brown and what he gave our nation and world, the work he passed on to us --

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/George_E._Brown_Jr

Today, decades later, it is a sad day to see a presidential budget that is so out of touch with science.

Yet, this 2026 budget is part of a larger package, a politically dangerous course to set in a time of unprecedented national and global dangers.

• https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fy-2026-budget-technical-supplement-002.pdf
• https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/09/nasa-staff-departures-00444674

The critical importance of having facts, data, and science-based knowledge is at stake, as national policies and security of the nation and world are being determined.

It's time to 'get our act together' as the old saying goes. Let us remember -- Earth is in our hands.

* https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/File:Earthrise_Planetary_Awareness.jpg

'Earthrise'

* https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Planet_Citizens,_Planet_Scientists

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