If you pay any attention at all to politics, regardless if it is politics at the local, state, or federal level, budgets are always a sticking point and there is always a deep debate on what should and should not be funded. Everyone has an opinion on budgets and it seems as if it is always a struggle to come to a budget agreement.
NASA's Budget
A few weeks ago I wrote a post detailing the increases to NASA's budget in the 2019 fiscal year. It wasn't long after that, however, before President Trump announced his proposed 2020 fiscal year budget, which includes an overall cut to NASA's budget of $500 million, which is very significant. The budget cut to NASA's science programs is about $600 million, or 8.7% of the science budget, which is a devastating cut that will greatly affect NASA's ability to do quality science. Note: There are some increases to other, non-science areas, of NASA, which explains why the science budget cut is greater than the overall cut.
The good news is that a president's proposed budget NEVER becomes the final budget. A president's proposed budget is a guideline of the president's policy wishes, but it is Congress that develops and determines the final budget. If you are upset about this proposed cut, get on the phone and call your U.S. House representative and two U.S. Senators. They are the ones will will develop, change, and approve a final fiscal year budget. Your calls and your letters DO sway the decisions of your lawmakers, so contact them.
If you are not sure who your reps are or who to contact them, go here:
Who Is My Representative?
Plug in your zip code and your representatives will appear with contact information to reach out to them and voice your opinion. NASA's budget is currently a very tiny fraction of the overall U.S. budget, at just 0.4% of the total government budget. There is no need to cut NASA's budget and jeopardize the U.S. as a world wide leader in science research and education.
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