Take Action Now in Response to the FY2026 President’s Budget Request

With the details of the FY2026 President’s Budget Request (PBR) now released, grass roots advocacy is more important than ever. Proposed budgetary levels for the planetary sciences represent an existential threat to our field. If the requested budget is enacted, the U.S. will cede space exploration leadership and reliable partnership to other spacefaring nations, curtail substantial economic activity across the country, and undermine the broader U.S. workforce of students and researchers in all 50 states and territories across academic, industry, government, and nonprofit sectors. Furthermore, if the U.S. is to achieve our current aspirational objectives of returning to the Moon with human and robotic assets, putting the first human on Mars, and exploring beyond the inner solar system, we cannot afford to adopt the funding levels proposed in the PBR. During uncertain and unprecedented times of social and economic crisis, YOU can still raise your voice and TAKE ACTION to protect NASA, NSF, and DOE planetary science funding.

Below is an example email and phone script to help craft your message when reaching out to Congressional offices. There is also space to share a “personal message” about your federally funded planetary science research and the impacts of proposed budget cuts on you personally. It is most effective to both email and call your members of Congress; however, a phone call is more likely to have an immediate impact. When you use the Call button below, the system will call the phone number you entered to connect you with all three of your members of Congress in succession, so please end each call with the star (*) button instead of the end-call button to be automatically directed to the next office.

Please email the AAS Public Policy Office ([email protected]) if you have any questions prior to reaching out to your Senators and Representatives. The AAS Public Policy Office can also provide email addresses of the relevant Congressional staffers who cover NASA, NSF, and DOE Science. The AAS DPS FRS is also available as an advocacy resource and can be reached at: [email protected]. Please note that any messages with crude or inflammatory language will not be passed on, and please be respectful during any communications with Congressional offices (messages should align with the AAS Mission and Vision Statement and AAS Code of Ethics).

Thank you for advocating for the U.S. planetary science community!

https://aas.org/planetary-action-alert