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119-hr-7273119th CongressWALLET

NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]

In Committee

Summary

Authorizes $24.4 billion for NASA in FY2026. The bill would continue the Moon‑to‑Mars / Artemis architecture while pushing greater commercialization of low‑Earth orbit and the ISS, expanding Earth‑observation and wildland fire programs, and changing workforce and procurement rules.

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  • NASA workers: creates a Public‑Private Talent Program with temporary assignments lasting up to 3 years total and capped at 2% of the civil servant workforce. Assignments include ethics safeguards and a post‑assignment service obligation equal to twice the assignment length.
  • Commercial space industry: requires U.S. commercial providers for human‑rated lunar landers and favors not fewer than two providers when feasible. It also directs NASA to buy commercial Earth observation data through a new acquisition program and to prefer U.S. launch and reentry services where practical.
  • Scientists and emergency managers: establishes FireSense to improve wildfire prediction, detection, and recovery with annual reporting for five years, and creates a Planetary Defense Coordination Office while directing studies on Landsat and commercial data continuity.

*Would authorize $24.4 billion for NASA in FY2026, creating a potential increase in federal spending if Congress provides the appropriation.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

17 provisions identified: 12 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.

NASA funding for FY2026

If enacted, the bill would authorize $24.4 billion for NASA for fiscal year 2026. The bill lists amounts by account, for example Exploration $7.783 billion; Science $7.25 billion; Space Operations $4.175 billion; Safety, Security, and Mission Services $3.0 billion; Aeronautics $935 million; Space Technology $920.5 million; Education $143 million; Construction & Environmental Compliance $185.336 million; and Inspector General $46.5 million. These are authorizations for Congress to appropriate and are not actual spending until Congress acts.

Moon-to-Mars safety and planning

If enacted, the bill would push NASA to keep Moon‑to‑Mars program continuity and human‑flight safety. It would require NASA to seek U.S. commercial human‑rated lunar landers and to try to obtain at least two providers when money allows. NASA would have to get advanced spacesuits from U.S. companies and keep Johnson Space Center suit expertise, and submit a 180‑day plan on testing and transitions. The bill would also require an independent EMU safety review starting within 45 days with a report in 270 days, and direct NASA to lead lunar communications, a lunar time standard (report in two years), and study power purchase agreements for lunar power (report in 24 months).

Stronger planetary defense for asteroids

If enacted, the bill would require NASA to maintain a Planetary Defense Coordination Office to survey, track, and characterize near‑Earth objects 140 meters or larger, to issue warnings, study mitigation options, and help government planning for potential impacts. The office's work is intended to protect public safety.

NASA wildfire tools and data

If enacted, the bill would direct NASA to use the Wildland Fire Commission's recommendations in its Earth science work. NASA would enhance collection, analysis, and sharing of satellite and remote sensing data for wildland fires. The agency would support research to improve fire prediction, detection, response, and recovery, and coordinate with Federal, State, local, and Tribal partners. NASA must report to Congress within one year about activities, impacts, and challenges.

Mars sample return planning

If enacted, the bill would direct NASA to lead a Mars Sample Return program subject to appropriations and to send Congress an implementation plan and timeline within 180 days. The plan must include mission design, architecture, and realistic cost and schedule estimates, and the program would proceed only to the extent Congress provides funds.

Government buying of private Earth data

If enacted, NASA's Earth Science Division would set up a program to buy and share commercial Earth remote sensing imagery, and to prefer U.S. vendors when practical. NASA must not buy data on terms that block publication or reuse, and it may set end‑use licenses to permit wide outside use. The bill would require a 180‑day report and annual reports on agreements. It would also require a 180‑day report on whether Landsat NEXT could be provided by private data buys while protecting the 50‑year Landsat record, and a 270‑day NOAA‑NASA study on use of commercial space‑weather data. OSTP would be told to consider commercial data when updating civil Earth observation plans.

U.S. launch requirement for LEO

If enacted, the bill would require NASA to include a term in future agreements for U.S. private low‑Earth orbit platforms that tasks use United States commercially provided launch and reentry services. The rule would apply to agreements made under the commercial LEO development authority. It is meant to support U.S. launch companies and related jobs.

Limits on China space collaborations

If enacted, the bill would bar using funds in this Act for bilateral activities with the People's Republic of China or PRC companies, and would bar hosting official PRC visitors at NASA facilities, unless NASA, OSTP, or the National Space Council certify after FBI consultation there is no security or human‑rights risk. Any such certification must be submitted to congressional committees and the FBI at least 30 days before the activity and include agenda and participant details.

Wildfire sensing and UAS procurement rules

If enacted, the bill would create "FireSense" to develop and deploy NASA remote sensing, modeling, and decision tools to improve wildland‑fire prediction, detection, response, and recovery. NASA must coordinate with federal, state, local, and Tribal partners and report annually for five years. The bill would also bar NASA from buying unmanned aircraft systems from certain covered foreign entities for emergency aerial response, unless the Administrator waives the ban for national‑interest wildfire response and notifies Congress within 30 days.

NASA workforce and training changes

If enacted, the bill would create a Public‑Private Talent Program to allow temporary assignments between NASA and private companies for 3 months to 2 years (generally), with aggregate caps (no more than 2% of civil servants at once) and a post‑assignment service obligation equal to twice the assignment length. NASA must report annually to Congress by April 30 and GAO must review implementation within three years. The bill also requires a NASA‑wide mentoring program (briefing in 180 days), expanded STEM and vocational outreach (briefing in one year), inclusion of NASA in SBIR Phase II flexibility, and protection for NASA employee discussion of their own scientific research consistent with NASA policies.

Large astrophysics cost and tech rules

If enacted, NASA could create a Great Observatories Mission and Technology Maturation program to mature concepts and technologies for future large astrophysics missions. The bill would require that maturation costs be counted in life‑cycle cost estimates. The bill also shifts independent life‑cycle cost estimates to after preliminary design review and requires NASA to report those estimates to Congress before obligating implementation funds. Decadal survey guidance would have to consider major NASA budget changes.

Commercial LEO and ISS transition

If enacted, the bill would let NASA enter anchor‑tenancy and other agreements to help develop private low‑Earth‑orbit platforms and allow U.S. companies to run nongovernmental human missions on the ISS under NASA rules. NASA must give Congress an independent market survey and legal compliance justifications by November 15, 2026, and report on nongovernmental ISS missions within 18 months. The bill would require NASA to buy ISS deorbit options from U.S. commercial providers and get a life‑cycle cost estimate within 30 days, and to keep a minimum flight cadence for crew and cargo unless safety requires a reduction. The bill also defines who counts as a "commercial provider" and requires a 60‑day determination on human‑rating applicability for commercial platforms.

NASA Earth data for farmers

If enacted, the bill would direct NASA to keep working with other federal agencies to share water, soil, vegetation, land‑use, and other Earth data with U.S. agricultural producers. This would include using NASA water data to help irrigation and providing tools for disease and weather planning. It is focused on data and tools, not on direct payments to farmers.

Protect contractors when access denied

If enacted, the bill would confirm that contracting officers can change NASA contract schedules when contractor workers cannot access NASA facilities. They could delay or skip work, reschedule tasks, or consider equitable cost adjustments. This change would apply once the bill is enacted.

New research planning and institute options

If enacted, NASA and the Commerce Department would report within 180 days on options for a Space Resources Institute and whether a virtual or physical institute is best. The bill would authorize a lunar discovery program in NASA's Science Mission Directorate and permit other federal agencies to transfer research or education funds to NASA for grants with approval from the sending agency.

New Space Grant funding shares

If enacted, the bill would change how Space Grant money is split each year. At least 85% of funds would go to eligible consortia, split equally among the 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico. Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands would each get one‑fifth of a consortium share. Up to 10% could pay administration and up to 5% could fund special opportunity grants.

New tech reviews and commercial testing

If enacted, NASA would contract an independent review of cryogenic valve technology and report results within 18 months (subject to appropriations). The bill would also authorize a commercial hypersonics testing program with a plan in 60 days, an initial report in 80 days, and annual reports thereafter. NASA would also prioritize research on orbital debris characterization and mitigation to help satellite operators and researchers.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/30/2026

  • Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/30/2026

  • Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 1/30/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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