Rep. Don Bacon joined more than 100 members of the U.S. House of Representatives in signing a bipartisan letter on Mar. 18 calling for $9 billion in funding for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in the fiscal year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.
The letter was led by Congressional Planetary Science Caucus Co-Chairs Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, and Judy Chu, a Democrat from California. The request comes ahead of the administration’s release of its fiscal year 2027 budget proposal and signals broad congressional support for NASA’s science programs.
“From the Apollo missions that first took us to the Moon to today’s Artemis program that will return us there and push even farther, America’s pioneering spirit has long defined our leadership in both manned and unmanned space exploration,” said Caucus Co-Chair Don Bacon. “To sustain that leadership, I’m pleased to join 102 of my House colleagues in requesting $9 billion for NASA Science in the Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. This investment will ensure NASA’s groundbreaking missions continue, support the highly skilled workforce that makes them possible, and keep the United States at the forefront of scientific discovery and space exploration.”
Caucus Co-Chair Judy Chu said: “Space exploration is vital to understanding the universe around us. Investment in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) programs drives scientific discovery, strengthens our country’s world-class workforce — including in my district in Southern California — and secures American leadership in space for generations to come. I’m thrilled to lead my colleagues in requesting $9 billion in funding for NASA’s SMD in Fiscal Year 2027.”
The proposed funding would restore buying power for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate to about its level from 2020, allowing faster progress on major scientific projects identified by national experts and supporting innovation among scientists across the country.
Jennifer Vaughn, CEO of The Planetary Society, said: “Congress proved with the FY 2026 budget that bipartisan support for space science is alive and well. This letter, signed by 103 Members of Congress and led by Congresswoman Chu and Congressman Bacon, shows that bipartisan congressional support is only growing stronger.
The Planetary Society thanks the Planetary Science Caucus Co-Chairs and their colleagues for reaffirming that the scientific exploration of space remains a defining American priority. This is a significant early signal in the FY 2027 budget process, and we remain committed to supporting Congress in its efforts to deliver the funding NASA needs to advance its pioneering program of Earth and space sciences.”
Bacon has served as U.S. Representative for Nebraska’s 2nd District since replacing Brad Ashford in 2017 according to official records. He was born in Momence, Illinois in 1963 and currently lives in Papillion as reported by local news. Bacon graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1984 before also attending University of Phoenix according to his biography.
