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NASA Protests: Thousands Rally Against Proposed Budget Cuts and Union Crackdown
Thousands of NASA workers and supporters rallied outside the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Monday, protesting proposed budget cuts and a union crackdown that they warn could irreparably harm the space agency’s future and the U.S. space program. The protesters argued that the agency is being hollowed out before Congress finalizes NASA’s next budget, and that the damage to science and the U.S. space program could be irreparable.
The protest, which was the third such demonstration this summer, was organized by NASA Needs Help, a group that says its campaign is growing as the budget fight intensifies. Demonstrators warned that layoffs, mission shutdowns, and the loss of union rights are already sinking morale and threatening safety across NASA centers. The protest was attended by thousands of people, including NASA workers, union representatives, and supporters, who carried signs and repeated calls, urging lawmakers to protect the space agency’s future.
The Proposed Budget Cuts
At the center of the concerns is President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, which would reduce NASA’s overall funding by nearly a quarter, slash science programs almost in half, and cancel 41 active or planned science missions. Protesters warned that those cuts threaten not just individual projects but also NASA’s position as the world leader in science and innovation. The proposed budget cuts have been met with widespread criticism, with many arguing that they will have a devastating impact on the space agency’s ability to conduct scientific research and exploration.
Key Highlights of the Proposed Budget Cuts
Some of the key highlights of the proposed budget cuts include:
* A 24% reduction in NASA’s overall funding
* A 47% cut to NASA’s science budget
* The cancellation of 41 active or planned science missions
* The elimination of funding for several high-profile projects, including the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) and the exoplanet-hunting telescope, HabEx
* A reduction in funding for NASA’s Earth Science Division, which conducts research on climate change and other environmental issues
The Union Crackdown
The protest also spotlighted an August 28 executive order signed by Trump that eliminated collective bargaining rights at NASA and a handful of other federal agencies in the name of national security. Union representatives at the demonstration said the order has already forced the cancellation of contracts, the closure of union offices, and an end to payroll dues contributions. The union crackdown has been met with widespread criticism, with many arguing that it is an attack on the rights of federal workers and will have a devastating impact on the space agency’s ability to conduct its work.
Reactions to the Union Crackdown
Some of the reactions to the union crackdown include:
* “This is a direct attack on the rights of federal workers and will have a devastating impact on the space agency’s ability to conduct its work,” said Monica Gorman, an area vice president for the Goddard Engineers, Scientists and Technicians Association (GESTA)
* “The union crackdown is part of a larger effort to make it easier for the administration to reduce NASA’s workforce,” said Matthew Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers
* “We’re literally being evicted from our office space,” Biggs said, referring to the union’s office at NASA headquarters
Congressional Support
The protest has received support from several lawmakers, including Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, who addressed protesters on Monday. “NASA is one of the best investments we can make in our country, and NASA’s workforce is critical to making our country great,” he said. “We have to fully fund NASA in our budget, return those 4,000 jobs back to NASA, and continue to support science all across this country.”
Letter to the House Appropriations Committee
On Tuesday, two lawmakers, Reps. Judy Chu (Democrat, CA-28) and Don Bacon (Republican, NE-02), sent a bipartisan letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging the body to safeguard NASA funding at FY 25 levels. In the letter, they warned that “without a [CR] anomaly providing guidance on the NASA budget … a budgetary interruption of this magnitude would be devastating and poses a number of serious concerns that will affect every state and nearly every congressional district.”
Conclusion:
The protest outside NASA’s headquarters on Monday was a powerful statement of the concerns of NASA workers and supporters about the proposed budget cuts and union crackdown. The protesters argued that the agency is being hollowed out before Congress finalizes NASA’s next budget, and that the damage to science and the U.S. space program could be irreparable. The protest has received support from several lawmakers, and it remains to be seen how Congress will respond to the proposed budget cuts and union crackdown. As the deadline for the fiscal year 2026 budget approaches, the fate of NASA and the U.S. space program hangs in the balance.
Keywords:
* NASA
* Budget cuts
* Union crackdown
* Space exploration
* Science research
* Federal workforce
* Collective bargaining rights
* National security
* Congressional support
* Bipartisan letter
* House Appropriations Committee
* Fiscal year 2026 budget
Hashtags:
* #SaveNASA
* #StopTheCuts
* #UnionRights
* #SpaceExploration
* #ScienceResearch
* #FederalWorkforce
* #NationalSecurity
* #CongressionalSupport
* #BipartisanLetter
* #HouseAppropriationsCommittee
* #FiscalYear2026Budget
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