Nasa hits pause: Space agency limits operations to bare bones amid US government shutdown

Nasa has announced that its activities are on hold because of a government funding lapse, with a notice on its website saying the agency is “closed” until further notice.

On Friday morning, the American space agency’s website displayed a message stating, “Due to the lapse in federal government funding, Nasa is not updating this website.” This occurred just as the 3I/Atlas spacecraft was passing by Mars, and the Reconnaissance Orbiter was set to capture the clearest images of the comet to uncover its true characteristics.

This announcement follows the US government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, after Congress did not approve a budget or temporary funding plan.

The shutdown, the first in almost six years, has led to thousands of federal employees being furloughed across various government agencies, including Nasa. Per official rules, only essential personnel needed to safeguard life and property are still working, causing most Nasa activities—from space science research to public outreach—to be put on hold.

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The budget catastrophe

The Trump administration announced in May of this year a major reduction in the proposed Nasa budget for next year, slashing it from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion.

These cuts are expected to severely impact science projects, with a 33% reduction in their budget and a 47% cut across all Nasa projects. Furthermore, nearly 32% of the agency’s workforce is slated to be laid off. Experts anticipate these deep cuts will significantly harm America’s space exploration efforts.

Earlier this week, a report released by the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation included a warning from whistleblowers that these budget reductions will also compromise safety at the space agency.