House Democrats “Demand NASA Cease Scheme To Illegally Impound FY25 Funds”

Keith’s note: The following was issued by House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Democrats: Yesterday, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Ranking Member Valerie Foushee (D-NC) wrote a letter to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Interim Administrator Sean Duffy warning him of the dire consequences to U.S. leadership in space if the administration illegally impounds congressionally appropriated FY25 funds for NASA. More below

“We write to you with rising alarm for the future of NASA,” the Members wrote in their letter. “As you surely know, Congress possesses the power of the purse in our constitutional system. Congress establishes NASA’s annual budget; Congress directs NASA to spend money on certain missions, programs, and priorities; and Congress sets the policies that NASA must implement. These congressional actions are not friendly requests. They are the law. NASA’s authority to operate – its authority to do anything at all – does not exist outside of the lawful authority granted to it by Congress. Yet recent statements by top officials at NASA suggest that the agency is attempting to override Congress’ rightful authority over NASA’s budget, and by extension, over the agency’s programs and priorities. NASA appears to be acting in accordance with a fringe, extremist ideology emanating from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that asserts a right to impound funds appropriated by Congress for the sake of executive branch priorities. Moreover, it now appears that the agency intends to implement funding cuts that were never enacted by Congress in order to “align” the agency’s present-day budget with the Trump Administration’s slash-and-burn proposed budget for the next fiscal year, with seemingly no concern for the devastation that will be caused by mass layoffs, widespread program terminations, and the possible closure of critical centers and facilities. These decisions are wrong, and they are not yours to make. If carried out, they will shatter NASA and abdicate America’s global leadership in space. The agency must stop immediately.”

After detailing several actions the administration has taken to cut enacted FY25 funds in accordance with its proposed FY26 budget request, the Members make the following demand:

“This is impoundment in action, and it must stop immediately. Regardless of any improper directives from OMB, NASA must adhere to constitutional principle. The agency must respect the Founders’ vision for the separation of powers between the different branches of government by ceasing all illegal impoundment activities in violation of Congress’ power of the purse. To reassure agency employees and the public that NASA will always follow the law, we call on you to issue a public statement affirming that the agency will spend all congressionally appropriated funds in recent, current, and future fiscal years as directed by Congress, and will not impound any funding.”

The letter can be found here.