Despite geopolitical tension and national budget woes, one message rang out loud and clear at Living Planet Symposium 2025: Earth science is a global mission. ESA has long fostered partnerships with NASA, JAXA, ISRO and many other space agencies and those collaborations continue to underpin the progress being made today.

NASA reportedly set to lose 2,000 senior staff members as Trump looks to slash agency’s budget - The agency saw layoffs in March and is losing nearly a quarter of its budget

NASA is experiencing significant staff reductions, with over 2,000 senior-ranking employees set to leave as part of a restructuring effort. This comes amid budget constraints under the Trump administration.

Janet Petro became the acting NASA administrator as the new administration prioritized Mars exploration.

The resignation wave is closely tied to budget pressures. The White House has proposed cutting NASA’s fiscal year 2026 budget by nearly half, down from $7.33 billion. This proposed reduction is part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to cut down on government spending and streamline federal operations.

Although the Space Launch System (SLS) has had two missions restored – Artemis 4 and 5 – and the Gateway, a lunar space station, put back on the agenda, there is no reprieve for NASA's science programs, which are set to be halved.

The Trump administration's budget proposal calls for the number of full-time employees at NASA Glenn to be reduced from nearly 1,400 to 837 for fiscal year 2026.

Last week, seven former heads of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate signed a joint letter to Congress condemning the White House’s suggested 47% cuts to NASA science activities in its 2026 budget proposal.

During the hearing, Isaacman faced wide-ranging questions about how NASA’s priorities might change under his leadership.

This summary covers recent developments in science news, including Airbus securing a contract for Spanish military satellites, an autonomous surgical robot successfully completing a gallbladder procedure,