Congress has approved a set of spending bills that mostly reject President Trump's requests to cut budgets for major science agencies. The agreements cover fiscal year 2026 and include funding for the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Department of Energy, and others. Lawmakers from both parties in the House and Senate worked out the details after months of talks. The moves come as the government works to wrap up its yearly budget process.
Background
For years, Congress and the White House have clashed over money for science. President Trump sent his budget plan to lawmakers last year asking for big reductions across many programs. He wanted to cut the National Science Foundation by more than half, from about $9 billion to around $4 billion. For NASA science missions, the request was a 47% drop. The Department of Energy's main science office faced a cut of over $1 billion. These plans aimed to shift spending priorities, but lawmakers pushed back hard.
This is not the first time. In past years, similar requests from the administration met resistance. Congress often ends up passing bills that keep funding steady or close to it. The latest round started with House and Senate committees negotiating three big bills: one for energy and water projects, another for commerce, justice, and science, and a third for interior and environment programs. On December 8, the House voted 397-28 to pass the package. Senate leaders followed with their approval, sending the bills toward final sign-off.
The process shows how Congress holds the power of the purse under the Constitution. Even with a divided government, bipartisan groups formed to protect research dollars. Universities, scientists, and business groups lobbied hard, pointing to jobs and innovation at stake. Global competition, especially with China, also played a role in lawmakers' decisions.
Key Details
The new budgets stick close to fiscal year 2025 levels, with small changes up or down. Here is a breakdown of the main agencies:
National Science Foundation
NSF gets $8.75 billion, down 3.4% or $300 million from last year. That is far better than the 55% cut Trump requested. The core research budget stays at $7.18 billion. Education programs receive $938 million, down from before but not eliminated as proposed. Lawmakers barred NSF from cutting any major research directorate by more than 5%. They also set aside money for programs that help underrepresented groups in science.
NASA
Science missions at NASA land $7.25 billion, a 1.1% drop or $84 million less than 2025. Trump wanted 47% gone. Education funding holds at $143 million. The bill keeps the Space Launch System rocket alive and calls for full use of the International Space Station. It sets aside $110 million for future Mars work, even as it pulls back on the sample return mission. Overall NASA budget comes in at $24.4 billion, avoiding a 24% slash.
Department of Energy
The Office of Science sees a gain, up nearly 2% to $8.4 billion. Trump sought to cut more than $1 billion. Applied research drops to $3.1 billion from $3.4 billion, but that beats the deep reductions requested for energy efficiency programs. ARPA-E, which funds risky energy projects, falls 24% to $350 million, closer to Trump's $200 million ask but still higher.
Other agencies also fare better. The US Geological Survey budget dips 2.1% to $1.4 billion, not the 59% cut proposed. Environmental Protection Agency science programs drop 3.5% to $744 million. The National Institute of Standards and Technology rises to $1.8 billion, with boosts for AI, quantum tech, and cybersecurity. Arts and humanities endowments stay flat at $207 million combined.
Lawmakers added rules to block changes to indirect cost rates for research grants. These cover overhead like lab maintenance that universities charge. Agencies must stick to 2024 rates, stopping recent efforts to cap them.
"This package rejects President Trump’s push to let our competitors do laps around us by slashing federal funding for scientific research by upward of 50% and killing thousands of good jobs in the process." – Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash.
"The package restrains spending while providing essential federal investments that will improve water infrastructure in our country, enhance our nation’s energy and national security, and spur scientific research necessary to maintain US competitiveness." – Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine
What This Means
Scientists and researchers can breathe easier for now. Labs across the country will keep operating without sudden layoffs or project halts. Universities count on this steady flow for grants that train the next generation and drive discoveries. The decisions help the US stay competitive in fields like space exploration, clean energy, and advanced tech.
But the budgets are not all wins. Small cuts mean some programs will shrink. ARPA-E's drop could slow bold energy bets. Education efforts at NSF face less money, even if saved from worse. Facilities at places like NIST still need repairs, though funding helps.
The package fits into bigger spending talks. Congress passed these bills as part of broader efforts to avoid a government shutdown. Both parties claim victories: Democrats over saving science, Republicans over trimming overall costs. House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole called it support for reining in spending. The bills now head to the president's desk, where a veto is possible but unlikely given past patterns.
Looking ahead, fiscal year 2027 budgets will spark new fights. Agencies face flat or lower funding trends amid rising debts. Global rivals pour money into research, so US leaders watch closely. For now, Congress has drawn a line on science cuts, keeping America's edge intact.
