Sponsors (7)
The bill directs significant new investments to sustain NASA missions, workforce, technology development, commercial space growth, and STEM outreach while increasing federal spending and creating tradeoffs around competition, program priorities, administrative burden, and international collaboration.
NASA scientists, researchers, federal employees, and contractors will keep funding and jobs through substantial appropriations and program support for science, exploration, and operations, sustaining ongoing missions and research activities.
NASA, commercial space firms, and the U.S. space enterprise will continue development of SLS/Orion, lunar landers, and related systems and maintain a continuous U.S. presence in LEO, supporting national leadership in human exploration and enabling commercial LEO development.
Students (secondary, postsecondary, and vocational) and local education partners gain expanded, more-stable STEM outreach and hands-on opportunities through Office of STEM Engagement funding and strengthened space grant consortia with predictable multi-year grants.
Taxpayers face substantial additional federal spending commitments for NASA programs and human exploration that could increase deficits or crowd out other federal priorities.
Mandates and preferences for particular programs, domestic suppliers, and dedicated directorates risk crowding out other research areas and priorities within NASA and the broader R&D ecosystem, potentially reducing flexibility and innovation in nonprioritized fields.
Domestic-preference requirements and permission for noncompetitive follow-on contracts may reduce market competition, potentially raising costs for taxpayers and disadvantaging firms not selected for initial prototype awards.
Based on analysis of 18 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes FY2025 NASA funding, continues Artemis/SLS/Orion development, mandates continuous U.S. LEO presence and transition to commercial stations, strengthens tech research, cost oversight, and Space Grant/STEM reforms.
Provides FY2025 funding guidance for NASA and directs continuation and development of human exploration programs (Space Launch System, Orion, Artemis and associated ground systems) while pushing NASA to transition low-Earth orbit operations from the International Space Station (ISS) to U.S. commercial space stations. Strengthens technology and aeronautics research (including hypersonics), tightens oversight of mission cost growth and early cost estimates, revises the Space Grant program and STEM workforce outreach, and adds procurement and reporting authorities to support commercial partnerships and program management. Authorizes $25.50754 billion for NASA in FY2025 allocated across exploration, science, space operations, technology, aeronautics, STEM engagement, safety/mission services, construction, and the Office of Inspector General; requires NASA to maintain continuous U.S. human presence in LEO, develop plans and a deorbit capability for ISS retirement, update hypersonic research roadmaps, and deliver multiple reports and briefings to Congress while expanding use of commercial providers and maintaining cost-control and oversight measures.
Introduced March 11, 2025 by Rafael Edward Cruz · Last progress March 11, 2025