The Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) House Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) bill and the accompanying report were released on 29 April and 12 May, respectively, ahead of the House Appropriations Committee markup on 13 May. The bill often provides topline spending guidance for government agencies (e.g., NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF)), while the report offers additional recommendations for divisions, directorates, and/or specific programs within the agencies. In this post, we outline provisions in the FY27 House CJS bill and report related to the astronomical sciences.

A new section on the Department of Energy was added on 26 May, following the release of the House FY27 Energy and Water Development (EWD) bill and report on 14 and 20 May, respectively. The bill was approved by the House Appropriations Committee on 20 May. 

When dissecting the language of the reports, it is important to remember that not all projects or programs will be mentioned. Specific projects or telescopes are often mentioned strategically by the Appropriations Committee to signal support, concerns, and/or agency expectations. The report can also be used to explain why the House is rejecting certain aspects of the President's Budget Request (PBR) and what the Committee recommends as an alternative. If a specific project is not mentioned by name in the reports, it likely just means that it is not a congressional focus, rather than indicating that it will not receive any funding. Also note that while the tables below compare the proposed FY27 funding levels to enacted FY26 or FY25 levels, in the case of missions and facilities in development, these numbers are not always a good comparison point as the programs are likely now in a different development phase, requiring a different budget.

In the tables below, we compare the House recommended funding levels to the FY27 PBR for NASA and NSF, which we outlined in a blog post last month. At the time of writing, the FY27 House Energy-Water Development bill, which recommends funding for the Department of Energy, has been released, but the accompanying Energy-Water Development report has not. The FY27 Senate appropriations bills and reports have also yet to be released, and they are expected in the coming weeks. We will write separate blog posts once these bills and reports are available.

While the House bill rejects the existential cuts proposed in the President’s Budget Request for FY27, it still cuts funding for both NSF and NASA Science by approximately 20% relative to FY26. The Senate is still developing its CJS bill, and there is still time to encourage your Senators to support robust and increased funding levels for our science agencies. Send a message to your members of Congress today using our Action Alert.

1. NASA
   1. Astrophysics
   2. Heliophysics
   3. Planetary Science
2. NSF
   1. Research and Related Activities
   2. Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction
3. DOE

NASA

The House Appropriations Committee has recommended the same funding levels as in its FY26 bill for NASA Science and its divisions.

The House Appropriations Committee recommends $6 billion for NASA Science (a 17% decrease from FY26), with $1,485 million for Astrophysics (a 7% decrease from FY26), $2,500 million for Planetary Science (an 2% decrease from FY26), and $625 million for Heliophysics (a 29% decrease from FY26). The House bill does not fund the Office of STEM Engagement, following the recommendation of the PBR, but the House does provide funding for the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and Space Grant under the Safety, Security, and Mission Services account.

*The programmatic funding levels in this column are those in the FY26 Joint Explanatory Statement. NASA’s FY26 spend plan is not yet available at the time of writing.

**These missions were not mentioned in the FY27 PBR, implying that they are once again slated for cancellation.

***The House recommends moving EPSCoR and Space Grant from the Office of STEM Engagement to the Safety, Security, and Mission Services account.

Astrophysics

Regarding the Astrophysics Division space telescopes listed in the table above, the Committee states that:

“The recommendation includes $92,800,000 for the Hubble Space Telescope and no less than $208,000,000 for the James Webb Space Telescope. The Committee remains encouraged by NASA’s progress on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and provides no less than $166,800,000 to ensure an on-time launch.”

During the full Committee markup, the above paragraph was updated via a manager’s amendment, offered by Rep. Hal Rogers, to include: “Additionally, the Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2026 enacted level for the Habitable Worlds Observatory.”

The recommendation also includes $49.3 million for the Astrophysics Balloon Project.

In addition to the above, the FY27 House CJS report also states support (but not particular funding levels) for the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, and the Ultraviolet Explorer.

For the Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite (ULTRASAT), the report states:

“The Committee directs NASA to maintain active involvement in the ULTRASAT mission and to establish a clear and timely launch schedule in coordination with its international partners to finalize and execute a clear, reliable, and timely launch schedule. The Committee directs NASA to provide regular updates on mission progress, partnership coordination, and any risks to cost, schedule, or performance to ensure mission success and U.S. scientific leadership in time-domain astrophysics.”

Heliophysics

For the Heliophysics Division, the report includes “$23,000,000 for the [Magnetospheric Multiscale] MMS mission and encourages NASA to utilize budgetary mechanisms, including carryover to meet this funding level.”

On the Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC), the report states that “The Committee notes that NASA is working to reformulate GDC, including a plan to incorporate the Dynamic Neutral Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling (DYNAMIC) mission and continues support for this review.” The Committee also recommends no less than $30 million for the NASA Sounding Rocket Program.

Planetary Science

The Committee “encourages NASA to meet a steady launch cadence for Planetary Science missions and to prioritize the top priorities from the Planetary Decadal Survey.”

Beyond the fiscal recommendations for the planetary missions in the table above, the Committee also voices support for New Horizons and that “new observations from the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory may provide additional flyby opportunities for the New Horizons mission.” The Committee also continues its support (without including specific funding levels) for Juno and the Uranus Orbiter and Probe.

The Committee also encourages the use of a competitive block buy model to accelerate science, stating:

“Within the funds provided for Planetary Science, the Committee encourages NASA to procure operational commercial capabilities to accelerate missions under the Discovery and New Frontiers programs including through the utilization of a competitive block buy model, as practicable, to purchase services from no fewer than two U.S. commercial providers. The Committee encourages NASA to prioritize spacecraft that use crosscutting capabilities, provide common-use infrastructural assets that can benefit multiple mission classes and are powered by advanced propulsion systems, such as hybrid solar-electric chemical propulsion, to increase usable payload mass and mission launch flexibilities.”

Lastly, the Committee supports no less than $62,000,000 and up to $75,000,000 for expanding the High End Computing Program and AI-integrated computing resources:

“The Committee supports the integration of AI capabilities into NASA’s existing High End Computing program and recognizes that this capability will lead to increased demand for computing resources within NASA. The Committee notes that computing resources can enhance support for emerging technologies and workflows and ensure NASA’s leadership in scientific and technological innovation.”

NSF

The House Appropriations Committee recommends $7 billion for NSF (a 23% cut from FY26), slightly over $6.44 billion to Research & Related Activities (R&RA) account (an 11% cut from FY26), $172.95 million for the Major Research & Facilities Construction account (a 7% decrease from FY26), and $24.16 million for the Office of Inspector General (the same level as FY26).

On the STEM Education (EDU) Directorate, the Committee notes that it “accepts the request to consolidate the STEM (EDU) account within the R&RA account.” This language is outdated. While the FY26 PBR recommended consolidating EDU within R&RA, the FY27 PBR recommends cutting the STEM EDU Directorate by 64% and continues support for “critical technologies that fuel economic growth and bolster national security.”

*This value does not include proposed mandatory spending requests. (See here for an explanation of mandatory vs. discretionary spending; mandatory spending is not determined through the annual appropriations process.)

**The House recommends consolidating the STEM EDU account within the R&RA account.

Research and Related Activities

Regarding R&RA, the proposed cut is, in practice, larger than 21% since the Committee recommends consolidating EDU within R&RA, which is in line with the FY26 PBR but not the FY27 PBR. The Committee underscores the importance of NSF for maintaining US leadership in research, and states that “the Committee directs NSF to prioritize research that aligns with vital national security priorities, including initiatives to advance AI and quantum computing.”

The Committee also commends the NSF for its investments in AI and urges the agency to continue efforts in AI, high-performance computing, and other emerging technologies.

The Committee recommends $250 million for EPSCoR and is “looking forward to reviewing more data on how the program has addressed research competitiveness in EPSCoR states in the coming years.” The Committee also states support for Emerging Research Institutions.

The Committee also recommends $20 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities – Excellence in Research Program, $26 million for the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program, recognizes the work of the NSF related to STEM education research, and notes support for undergraduate STEM education and Hispanic Serving Institutions.

On graduate education and training:

“The Committee supports measures that improve graduate student advising and mentorship as well as funding mechanisms. The Committee recognizes the importance of these matters to increase talent retention and international competitiveness, and encourages NSF to develop best practices that enhance graduate education, to study the impact of funding models on graduate student productivity and outcomes, and to set clear mentorship standards in Federally funded projects, including ensuring positive, productive, and learning-focused relationships between mentors and mentees, professional growth, ethics, and assessment practices.”

The Committee also voices support for the Graduate Research and Fellowship Program (GRFP), stating that “The Committee supports continued funding for [GRFP] to support graduate students who are pursuing full-time, research- based masters and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering or math or STEM education.”

The Committee also recognizes the importance of university-affiliated astronomical facilities and states:

“The Committee recognizes the important role that universities play in supporting observatories and other astronomical facilities by providing necessary infrastructure for cutting-edge research, training the next generation of astronomers, and facilitating public outreach to promote scientific literacy. The Committee encourages NSF to collaborate with university-supported observatories that host public events, teacher workshops, and education programs.”

Facilities

Beyond the recommendations outlined in the table above, the Committee also voices support for a variety of astronomy facilities and programs. On Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey Priority Facilities, the Committee includes the same statement as last year:

“The Committee understands that the Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2020 (Astro2020) has developed a comprehensive research strategy and vision for the future of astronomy and astrophysics, particularly as it relates to ground-based instruments and observatories, including the U.S. Extremely Large Telescope Program (USELT) and the Next Generation Very Large Array [ngVLA]. The Committee is encouraged to see NSF taking proactive steps towards advancement to the next phase of the process and notes that this has the potential to unlock additional non-federal investments. The Committee also recognizes the importance of continued support through the R&RA account to advance projects through activities such as value engineering and technology prototyping, which reduce cost, improve schedule performance, and sustain U.S. scientific and technical leadership. The recommendation provides up to $30,000,000 for continued design efforts. The Committee notes the importance of the USELT program, a critical science program that is undertaken by the Federal government with a 50 percent cost share by non-federal partners, including major U.S. allies, in ensuring continued U.S. leadership in astronomy and safeguarding national security. The Committee directs NSF to continue to provide regular briefings on the status of the USELT program.”

The Committee also prioritizes the ngVLA and recommends $23 million for “continued development of this critical program to ensure the U.S. can maintain world leadership in astronomy for the benefit of U.S. innovation, STEM careers, technology innovations, and national security.” This is a substantial increase from the $6 million for design-related funding recommended by the Committee for FY26.

On current astronomy facilities, the Committee “directs NSF to ensure there is adequate support for operational costs and maintenance at its current facilities, as it considers new astronomy investments”, and recommends continued support for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. The Committee also recognizes the scientific contributions made by the Arecibo Observatory (AO), and states:

“Within 270 days of the enactment of this Act, the Committee directs NSF to provide a briefing on a plan to utilize these scientific instruments at the AO in support of active science and scientific research alongside education workforce development. Additionally, to the extent feasible, the Committee requests NSF collaborate on the report with NASA to explore any potential for the AO facility to be utilized for space research and near-earth object detection via ground-based planetary radar.”

On the Green Bank Observatory (GBO), the Committee states:

“The recommendation provides $14,550,000 for GBO operations and recurring maintenance. The Committee supports efforts to develop new radar capabilities at GBO in partnership with the [Department of War] DOW and commercial firms and directs NSF to keep the Committee updated on these activities. In addition to funding for GBO operations and recurring maintenance, the recommendation provides up to $5,000,000 for the third year of a multi-year strategic facilities renewal and critically needed maintenance to ensure that the Green Bank Telescope can continue to operate at optimal levels.”

The Committee also notes concern that the “NSF continues to implement public access policies without Administration guidance and coordination,” further stating:

“The Committee directs NSF to pause implementation of new public access policies until [the Office of Science and Technology Policy] OSTP has had the time to repeal the August 2022 memo titled ‘‘Ensuring Free, Immediate, and Equitable Access to Federally Funded Research,’’ pursuant to the instruction in the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying Public Law 119–74. The Committee directs NSF to provide an update within 30 days of the enactment of this Act on the status of its implementation of this direction.”

Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC)

Within the MREFC account, the Committee recommends $81.45 million for the Leadership-Class Computing Facility. For Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure:

“The recommendation supports the Mid-scale Research Infrastructure program as authorized by Public Law 117–167 and urges NSF to continue funding already awarded projects designed to advance STEM education and technology capabilities across the country. The Committee urges NSF to take a balanced approach to awarding rigorous and transformative mid-scale infrastructure projects, and to meet the various scientific needs identified by major community reports such as Astro2020. The Committee also encourages NSF to award at least one Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure project to an institution in an EPSCoR State.”

The Committee also directs the NSF to report “regularly on the status of the USELT program, including an anticipated timeline of moving projects into the MREFC account.”

On Antarctic Research Infrastructure, the Committee once again states:

“The Committee is concerned about recent announcements to pause Antarctic field research and delay project design for the fourth-generation ground-based cosmic microwave background (CMB–S4) and IceCube-Gen2 due to Antarctic infrastructure challenges. The Committee is concerned that delays to CMB–S4 and IceCube-Gen2 threaten loss of U.S. leadership as competitors set up new Antarctic research efforts. No later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, the Committee requests NSF provide an update on Antarctic research infrastructure.”

This language is likely outdated, as NSF and the US Department of Energy released a statement in July 2025 indicating they will no longer be supporting CMB-S4.

Department of Energy

This section was added on 26 May, following the release of the House FY27 Energy and Water Development (EWD) bill and report on 14 and 20 May, respectively. The bill was approved by the House Appropriations Committee on 20 May. 

The House EWD bill recommends $8.525 billion for the DOE Office of Science, which is a 3% increase from FY26 enacted levels. There is no fiscal recommendation in the report for the High Energy Physics Program, though the committee states: 

“The High Energy Physics program supports fundamental research into the elementary constituents of matter and energy and ultimately into the nature of space and time. The program focuses on particle physics theory and experimentation in three areas: the energy frontier, which investigates new particles and fundamental forces through high-energy experimentation; the intensity frontier, which focuses on rare events to better understand the fundamental model of the universe’s elementary constituents; and the cosmic frontier, which investigates the nature of the universe and its form of matter and energy on cosmic scales.” 

The Committee recommends $49 million for the Sanford Underground Research Facility. There are no further details for programs or missions related directly to the astronomical sciences.