Keith’s note: the American Astronomical Society (AAS) issued a release Congress Passes Fiscal Year 2026 Spending Bills for NSF, NASA, and DOE – here is the NASA portion: “Take action today! Congress has largely rejected the severe cuts to science proposed in the President’s Budget Request. Take a few minutes today to thank your members of Congress for their support of the sciences, and urge them to continue to provide robust and sustained support in the future: https://aas.org/action-alert-thank-you-fy2026 On 15 January 2026, the US Senate passed a “minibus” of Fiscal Year 2026 spending bills, following its passage by the House of Representatives on 8 January. … Note that as of 15 January 2026, the bills have been sent to the President to sign into law, but we are awaiting that final signature.” More below

Keith’s note: this is an excerpted version of a statement by Sen. Van Hollen (D-MD) on the Senate Passage of Commerce, Justice, Science, & Related Agencies FY 2026 Appropriations Bill – Legislation includes provisions on FBI Headquarters, NASA Goddard, NOAA; rejects Trump Administration cuts to critical programs: Key Bill Points & Highlights: [Note NASA, NSF, NIST, NOAA excerpts] (more below)

Keith’s note: According to a press release “U.S. Science Leadership Survives Existential Threat From Trump Budget as Cantwell Rallies Colleagues to Reject Gutting NASA, NSF, & NIST“ from Senator Maria Cantwell: “America’s leading science agencies have survived an existential threat thanks to bipartisan rejection of massive budget cuts proposed by the Trump Administration, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and senior member of the Finance Committee, announced today.” (Full text below)

Keith’s note: Last year the White House nominated Matt Anderson to be Deputy NASA Administrator and Greg Autry to be NASA CFO (twice in 2020 & 2025). And of course Jared Isaacman was nominated twice. So … not a smooth year for NASA nominees. Since their nominations we’ve heard nothing about Autry or Anderson’s status. Yesterday Autry tweeted “On both occasions my nomination expired at year end, without a Senate vote. I have decided not to pursue confirmation again and have requested that I not be renominated.” If you look at it says “01/03/2026 Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.” If you look at the status of Anderson’s nomination it also says the same thing. Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 specifies that “Nominations that have been neither confirmed nor rejected by the Senate at the time the Senate adjourns sine die or for a period of more than 30 days are returned to the President”. So it looks like there will need to be a new CFO nominee. Matt Anderson certainly seems to be chipper and happily ready to on-board at NASA – so I guess maybe he is still the Administration’s choice. Or Jared Isaacman could just use NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya as his de-facto deputy. Dan Goldin did this throughout his tenure. I would ask NASA Public Affairs – but they ignore me these days.

Keith’s note: according to a press release “Planetary Science Caucus Co-Chairs Statement on House Passage of FY26 Full-Year Funding for Space, Science, and Exploration”: “the U.S. House of Representatives voted 397-28 to pass H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026. Rep Judy Chu (CA-28) and Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), who both co-Chair the bipartisan Congressional Planetary Science Caucus, released the following joint statement: (more below)

Keith’s note: here’s your expert summary from Marcia Smith at Space Policy Online: “The House and Senate Appropriations Committees released the text of their joint conference agreement on the FY2026 Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) bill today with a wholesale rejection of the dire cuts to NASA proposed by the Trump Administration. The committees had individually indicated they would not accept Trump’s 24.3 percent cut and the joint agreement calls for only a comparatively small reduction of $400 million from NASA’s $24.8 billion FY2025 budget. It’s still a cut, though, and inflation will reduce the buying power of that money, but if enacted the outcome is a vast improvement over what the agency was facing a few months ago.” More at “Great News for NASA in the House-Senate FY2026 Appropriations Report“.

Keith’s note: Jared Isaacman’s confirmation has been approved by the Senate by a vote of 67 – 30. Next stop is swearing in. So we may have a new NASA Administrator this week.

Keith’s note: Senate Majority Leader Thune has filed cloture (the formal process to end a filibuster and force a vote on a bill, motion, or nomination) as shown on Executive Calendar #593 for Jared Isaacman to become Administrator of NASA. Final action is expected in the coming week. 16 Dec Update: According to Marcia Smith:

Keith’s note: according to a press release from House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology “House SST Committee Investigates Alleged Misconduct in Agency Civil Rights Offices” letters have been sent to a number of agencies (including NASA) “following disturbing reports of potential obstructionism within agencies’ Office of Civil Rights (OCRs). The letters seek to determine the scope of this obstructionism and to inform appropriate oversight measures to ensure OCRs are fulfilling their statutory responsibilities.” More Below.

Keith’s note: NASA issued a release moments ago: “The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today reported favorably on the nomination of Jared Isaacman to serve as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, advancing the nomination to the Senate Floor for consideration by the full legislative body. During his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, December 3rd, Isaacman received strong bipartisan support for his swift confirmation. … The committee’s favorable report allows Isaacman to advance for consideration of full Senate confirmation.”