Budget Bombshell: Trump Slashes Billions From Science, Climate, And Infrastructure Funding

Recent budget proposals include significant cuts to major science agencies. The National Science Foundation faces a 55.8% reduction, while NASA’s science programs could lose 47% of funding. Climate research is labeled “low priority” with many programs facing elimination. The Department of Energy’s Office of Science would see a 14% decrease, and NIH could lose nearly $18 billion. These cuts may reshape America’s position in global innovation and technology development.

As the new federal budget plan takes shape, major science agencies and infrastructure programs are facing steep funding reductions across the board. The National Science Foundation is facing a 55.8% cut, amounting to $4.9 billion in lost funding. Likewise, the Department of Energy‘s Office of Science will see a 14% reduction, bringing its budget down to $7.1 billion.

The National Institutes of Health isn’t faring any better, with a proposed cut of nearly $18 billion. NASA’s budget is set to decrease by 24.3%, including a dramatic 47% reduction to its science programs. Climate research, clean energy initiatives, and certain social science programs have been labeled as “low priority” and targeted for elimination.

Higher education and STEM programs are also on the chopping block. More than $1 billion in NSF programs aimed at broadening participation in STEM fields will be eliminated, while NASA’s STEM engagement programs face termination. These cuts threaten America’s leadership in innovation and workforce development.

The budget takes particular aim at climate and environmental science. Funding for climate monitoring satellites will be eliminated, and research on clean energy and extreme climate scenarios will be severely reduced. Some proposals even describe climate research as having “dubious public value.” Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act investment of $369 billion for clean energy is now at risk of being dramatically scaled back.

Non-defense discretionary spending will drop by $163 billion overall, representing a 22.6% reduction from 2025 levels. While the Department of Transportation will receive some additional funding for FAA operations, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency faces a 17% budget cut despite growing digital threats.

Experts warn these reductions could jeopardize U.S. global innovation leadership and slow technological development. Training programs for the next generation of scientists and engineers are at risk, potentially creating long-term workforce gaps in critical fields.

College affordability will suffer under a $12 billion cut to the Education Department, making higher education access more difficult for many students. The elimination of TRIO and Federal Work-Study programs would particularly impact low-income students seeking college access. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s reorganization plan would consolidate NIH’s 27 institutes into just five new institutes, fundamentally restructuring how health research is conducted in America.