US Senate passes bill to boost federal science spending after White House sought major cuts

[highplainsdem]

Source: Reuters

The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to approve billions of dollars in funding for federal science agencies, rejecting deep cuts proposed by President Donald Trump in space and other areas.

The Senate bill approved significant science funding for NASA, the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration above what the White House had sought. NSF will receive $8.75 billion for research efforts including in quantum information science, artificial intelligence and other areas.

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The Senate rejected nearly all of Trump's cuts to NASA. The president had sought a $6 billion cut from the $24.9 billion budget, but the Senate voted for a much smaller cut, appropriating $24.44 billion.

The bill rejected a proposal to cut NASA Science by 47% and terminate 55 operating and planned missions. The legislation also provides $1.6 billion for Astrophysics, including $300 million to complete a telescope to investigate dark energy and $500 million for the Dragonfly mission to explore the largest moon of Saturn.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us-senate-passes-bill-boost-federal-science-spending-after-white-house-sought-2026-01-15/

[brer cat]

1. Losing our progress in science is stupid. So is our president.

It's good to know the senate can find their spine. I hope they will remember how for other areas.

[BaronChocula]

2. Let's vote for an arsonist

and then spend time putting the fires we never wanted out one by one.