The Trump administration is working to shut down two key NASA missions that monitor carbon dioxide emissions and plant health — a move that could cut off crucial data for scientists, policymakers, and farmers.
In the proposed 2026 federal budget, President Trump has requested no funding for the Orbiting Carbon Observatories (OCO), which provide detailed information on where carbon dioxide is being emitted or absorbed and how well crops are performing.
NASA confirmed the cuts in a statement Wednesday, saying the missions were “beyond their prime mission” and being discontinued to “align with the President’s agenda and budget priorities.”
However, experts say the OCO missions — one a satellite launched in 2014 and the other an instrument installed on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2019 — are still among the most accurate systems in the world for monitoring greenhouse gases and plant life. Both systems include components developed from the Hubble Space Telescope.
“These are a national asset,” said David Crisp, a retired NASA scientist who led the missions’ development. He noted that the instruments were critical in discovering that the Amazon rainforest emits more carbon dioxide than it absorbs, while boreal forests in Canada, Russia, and thawing permafrost regions absorb more carbon than they release.
The missions also track the faint “glow” of plant photosynthesis, offering early warning signs of drought and helping to predict food shortages that could lead to famine or civil unrest.
“This work is vital,” Crisp said. “We’re learning so much about our fast-changing planet.”
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Scientists Slam the Decision
Climate scientists and researchers widely criticized the decision.
University of Michigan climate expert Jonathan Overpeck called the move “extremely shortsighted,” warning that the data from the satellites is essential for addressing the growing impact of climate change, both globally and within the U.S.
Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, echoed that sentiment, calling the funding cuts part of a broader pattern of undermining climate science. “The principle seems to be that if we stop measuring climate change, it will just disappear from the American consciousness,” he said.
Congress May Step In
Some scientists and lawmakers are urging Congress to restore funding, as the missions are currently funded through the fiscal year ending September 30.
The House version of the federal budget mirrors Trump’s proposal and would eliminate the missions, while the Senate version preserves them. With Congress in recess, the outlook remains uncertain.
If a new budget isn’t passed before October 1, lawmakers could pass a continuing resolution to maintain current funding temporarily. However, some fear the Trump administration could still delay or withhold funds.
Last month, congressional Democrats warned NASA acting administrator Sean Duffy that terminating missions or blocking allocated funds would be illegal.
Looking for Alternatives
As a fallback, Crisp and other advocates are trying to form a coalition of international partners — including from Japan and Europe — to fund and operate the ISS-based instrument. NASA said it will accept outside proposals until August 29.
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But the fate of the free-flying satellite remains grim. It’s at risk of being de-orbited, which would cause it to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. According to a report by NPR, NASA employees have already begun planning to shut it down.
Crisp said he and others hope NASA will allow a third party to take over control of the satellite, but legal issues remain, especially since that may involve transferring control of a U.S. satellite to foreign entities.
“We’re reaching out to billionaires, to foundations,” Crisp said. “But trying to pass this off to private donors or industry is a really bad idea. It’s just not sustainable.”
Source: Agency