SpaceX founder reacts to Trump’s budget cut for NASA

SpaceX founder and CEO, Elon Musk has reacted to US President Donald Trump’s new move to cut the budget for NASA by nearly half from what it was receiving previously, musk labeled this decision “troubling”.

“I am very much in favor of science, but unfortunately cannot participate in NASA budget discussions, due to SpaceX being a major contractor to NASA” Musk wrote on X.

Reports revealed that the Trump administration has proposed a budget cut for the agency’s science programs. Its budget could be reduced from $7.3 billion to $3.9 billion for fiscal year 2026.

This budget could impact NASA’s future missions, including the Nancy Grace Roman Space telescope, extended missions such as Voyager and Curiosity as well as the Hubble Space Telescope.

SpaceX has a major role in NASA’s launch program. It has been serving the space agency since 2006 and elected under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.

In 2009, SpaceX received $1.6 billion NASA contract for Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract, which helped the company to gain financial stability. In 2012, the Dragon spacecraft became the first commercial vehicle to launch and deliver cargo to the Space Station.

SpaceX has employed Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets to launch different payload to space for planet exploration and cargo and human passengers to the orbiting laboratory. It has also added Starship vehicle for future missions.

(source)