The Trump administration has proposed ending two critical NASA missions that track carbon dioxide emissions and plant health, as part of the 2026 federal budget plan. These missions include the Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellite, launched in 2014, and a specialised instrument on the International Space Station, deployed in 2019. Both are equipped with advanced technology originally used in the Hubble Space Telescope.
According to NASA, the missions have gone “beyond their prime mission” and are being terminated “to align with the President’s agenda and budget priorities”. However, experts argue that these systems are still the most accurate tools globally for measuring carbon emissions and monitoring photosynthesis in plants. They believe ending them would be a major setback for climate science, agricultural forecasting and global environmental policy.
David Crisp, a retired NASA scientist who led the missions’ development, stressed their importance in revealing data such as the Amazon rainforest emitting more carbon dioxide than it absorbs, and the role of boreal forests in Canada and Russia as significant carbon sinks. He explained, “This is really critical. We are learning so much about this rapidly changing planet.”
The instruments also detect photosynthesis in crops, helping forecast droughts and potential food shortages that could trigger civil unrest or famine. Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist from the University of Michigan, called the move “extremely shortsighted”, highlighting that the data is essential for managing climate change impacts both globally and within the United States.
While the missions are funded through the current fiscal year ending on 30 September, their future remains uncertain. The House version of the 2026 budget supports the President’s proposal to cut funding, but the Senate’s version aims to preserve the programmes. With Congress in recess, a resolution to extend current funding is possible, though some lawmakers fear potential delays or restrictions from the administration.
Democrats have warned acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy that terminating funded missions or withholding appropriated funds would be illegal. Meanwhile, Crisp and others are seeking international partners, including from Japan and Europe, to help fund and operate the ISS-based instrument. NASA has opened a call for outside proposals until 29 August.
NASA efforts are also underway to save the free-flying satellite from being deorbited and burned, although legal challenges remain in transferring control to a group that may include foreign entities.
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