"Deficit Hawks" in OMB to Blame for Planetary Science Budget Woes Says Rep. Schiff

At anniversary of Curiosity landing, recommit to planetary science: Adam Schiff (D-CA), Op-Ed Los Angeles Daily News
“One might think that the latest round of draconian cuts are driven by reductions to the federal budget — and, in turn, to NASA’s budget — necessary to reduce our debt and deficit. But that isn’t the case. To the president’s credit, NASA’s overall budget hasn’t been targeted and remains largely flat, a signal achievement when domestic discretionary spending is at its lowest levels since the Eisenhower Administration. Instead, time and again, deficit hawks in the Office of Management and Budget have targeted specific parts of the NASA portfolio for disproportionate cuts, and none more so than arguably the most successful of all NASA’s recent achievements — planetary science.
And for whatever reason, the “crown jewel” of the planetary science program, Mars, is in the crosshairs and the men and women of JPL know it. Last year, as a way to highlight the budget cuts, some workers hosted a bake sale, and in an effort to cut back non-essential programs and activities in the wake of sequestration, popular outreach programs like the JPL’s annual open house have been cancelled, as have visits to classrooms and other educational activities.”