U.S. Space Science in Flux: Grant Rules, Rockets, and Reorganization

Why It Matters

Shifting grant authority to political appointees and deep budget cuts threaten the integrity of U.S. space science, potentially delaying missions and undermining global research leadership.

Key Takeaways

• OMB proposes rule giving political appointees control over federal grants.
• NASA science budget faces 17% House cut, flat overall funding.
• Senate may add modest 2.5% NASA budget increase after markup.
• Proposed rule could end peer review, jeopardizing research stability.
• Planetary Society mobilizes advocacy, urging transparency on at‑risk missions.

Summary

The episode spotlights a wave of policy upheaval threatening U.S. space science. It covers the Office of Management and Budget’s 412‑page proposal that would shift grant‑making authority to political appointees, effectively bypassing the peer‑review system that underpins federal research, as well as a looming reorganization at NASA and a new competition to manage the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In parallel, the House has offered a budget that slashes NASA’s science line‑item by 17% while keeping the agency’s overall budget flat, and the Senate is expected to propose a modest 2.5% increase, the first in four years. Key data points include the House’s 17% cut, the Senate’s potential 2.5% boost, and the OMB rule’s sweeping authority to approve, deny, or rescind grants based on political criteria. The discussion also references the Save NASA Science campaign’s recent “day of action,” the lack of transparency from Administrator Bill Isaacson on at‑risk missions, and the fallout from Blue Origin’s Glenn rocket explosion on May 28, which could delay Artemis timelines. Notable remarks from Jack Carelli describe the OMB proposal as “a complete reversal of how science has been done,” emphasizing that every federal dollar would require political sign‑off, eliminating the traditional merit‑based review. He also highlights the campaign’s dashboard that lets the public track each regulatory change line‑by‑line, and the urgency felt by the planetary community to protect ongoing research and upcoming missions. If enacted, these changes could erode scientific independence, destabilize long‑term research projects, and jeopardize high‑profile NASA missions, making coordinated advocacy essential for preserving the United States’ leadership in space exploration and broader research domains.

Original Description

Between budget battles, proposed grant rule changes, and an exploding Blue Origin rocket, there's a lot to cover in U.S. space policy right now. Jack Kiraly, The Planetary Society's director of government relations, joins host Sarah Al-Ahmed to walk through a cascade of developments affecting NASA and the broader U.S. science community, including a proposed rule change at the Office of Management and Budget that would hand control of federal research grant decisions to political appointees, bypassing the peer review process that has underpinned U.S. science for decades. Kiraly also discusses a major reorganization at NASA, a new competition for the management of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the fallout from the New Glenn explosion, and what it means for the future of Artemis.

Plus, in What's Up, the names of the Artemis III crew are revealed.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-us-space-science-in-flux (https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-us-science-in-flux)

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