Trump's attempt to terminate Musk's contracts backfires as review reveals NASA's reliance on SpaceX
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NASA Staff Protest Budget Cuts as Trump Reviews Musk Contracts
Above: NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center entrance on June 17, 2025, in Houston, Texas. Image copyright: Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers/Getty Images
The Spin
Democratic narrative
This letter bravely exposes Trump's attacks on science, from space exploration to scientific studies more generally. From interplanetary spacecraft that are essential in the space race against China, to medicine and environmental health research, Trump is indiscriminately gutting America's scientific institutes — and thus its leading stance as the world's leading research nation.
Republican narrative
Trump's NASA budget refocuses on human spaceflight, prioritizing American boots on Mars over redundant climate research. By trimming the bloated Science Mission Directorate, funds are now redirected to critical Mars missions, leveraging private sector success like SpaceX. This more efficient NASA avoids past failures, ensuring U.S. leadership in space exploration.
Metaculus Prediction
Limited Coverage
This story currently has limited reporting from right-wing sources. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our coverage as additional perspectives become available.