On February 10, 2020, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released the Trump administration's proposed budget for the U.S. Government in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. Under the budget proposal, total funding for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) would increase by $2.6 billion or 11.5 percent, compared to FY2020 levels.
While total funding for NASA would increase, several key research programs would face cuts. The budget proposal indicates that "NASA's top priority mission is to return American astronauts to the Moon by 2024" and that funds will be "redirected from lower priority programs" to pay for that mission. In particular, according to the proposal, "the Budget provides no funding for the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope, two Earth science missions, and the Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Engagement. The Budget continues to support education activities such as internships and fellowships funded outside of the Office of STEM Engagement. The Budget also proposes to terminate the SOFIA telescope, which has not proven to be as scientifically productive as other missions."