Senate response to White House budget for NASA: Keep SLS, nix science

The 2026 U.S. federal budget negotiations are just beginning, but a growing divide between the White House and Congress has already emerged in space policy. While President Trump's administration outlined its plans for NASA, days later, the Senate followed with its own budget priorities, signaling a clear shift in control over this critical area of funding. Ted Cruz, a leading Republican on space policy within the Senate, has issued his "legislative directives," directing additional funding for NASA without having the authority to allocate budgets himself. This move highlights the growing tension as Congress faces a complex and often delayed budget process due to its history of impasse.