Trump Claims He Saved NASA While Proposing 50% Budget Cuts During Artemis II Call
President Trump called NASA's Artemis II crew Monday night after they completed a record-breaking moon flyby, telling the astronauts he saved the space agency. His administration is simultaneously proposing to cut NASA's science budget by nearly 50%.
The four-person Artemis II crew received a congratulatory call from President Trump Monday evening after making history as the humans who have traveled farthest from Earth. During the call, Trump told the astronauts he had saved NASA.
The timing was awkward. Just days before the crew's April 1 launch, Trump's administration requested deep cuts to NASA's science budget — nearly 50% according to budget documents. The Artemis II mission lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida using NASA's Space Launch System rocket.
The crew spent Monday conducting observations of the moon's far side during their flyby. No humans had traveled this far from Earth before, breaking records set during the Apollo missions in the 1960s and 70s.
The budget contradiction puts Trump's space policy in the spotlight. While praising NASA publicly, his proposed cuts could significantly impact future missions and scientific research programs that have been years in development.
The contradiction highlights the gap between political messaging and policy reality. NASA budget cuts could delay future space missions and scientific research that drives innovation and keeps America competitive in space exploration.
Congress will review Trump's NASA budget proposal. The Artemis II crew continues their mission before returning to Earth.
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