Trump Budget Proposes Major Cuts to Science Funding in 2027

The Trump administration’s 2027 budget request proposes cutting federal research funding by billions while boosting defense spending nearly 40%.

President Donald Trump’s administration unveiled a fiscal plan that would slash budgets for key science agencies, including the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the National Institutes of Health. This marks a structural pivot towards prioritizing defense over nondefense discretionary spending, with significant consequences for federal research programs.

The proposal calls for a 55% reduction in NSF funding from $9 billion to $4 billion, a 23% cut to NASA’s budget, and a 12% cut to NIH’s base budget. It also includes eliminating climate change programs, reorganizing NIH, and proposing limits on agency spending related to scientific publishing. Defense spending would rise from roughly $1.6 trillion to $2.2 trillion, while nondefense discretionary funds would shrink by 10%. Previous similar cuts for 2026 were largely rejected by Congress, and it remains to be seen how Congress will respond to the 2027 request.

It will take months before Congress decides whether to accept these cuts when the 2027 fiscal year begins on 1 October.

Montana’s research institutions and industries could feel the ripple effects if federal science funding contracts as proposed. With its mix of rural communities, natural resources, and emerging tech sectors, Montana may face challenges in sustaining innovation without robust federal support, especially in areas like environmental research and advanced computing. The state’s business landscape might need to prepare for tighter federal grant competition and shifting priorities in national science policy.

By Science News Staff, American Association for the Advancement of Science