Trump moves to shut down NASA missions that measure carbon dioxide and
plant health
[August 07, 2025]
By TAMMY WEBBER
The Trump administration is moving to shut down two NASA missions that
monitor a potent greenhouse gas and plant health, potentially shutting
off an important source of data for scientists, policymakers and
farmers.
President Donald Trump's budget request for fiscal year 2026 includes no
money for the Orbiting Carbon Observatories, which can precisely show
where carbon dioxide is being emitted and absorbed and how well crops
are growing.
NASA said in an emailed statement Wednesday that the missions were
“beyond their prime mission” and being terminated “to align with the
President’s agenda and budget priorities.”
But the missions — a free-flying satellite launched in 2014 and an
instrument attached to the International Space Station in 2019 that
include technology used in the Hubble Space Telescope — still are more
sensitive and accurate than any other systems in the world, operating or
planned, and a “national asset” that should be saved, said David Crisp,
a retired NASA scientist who led their development.
They helped scientists discover, for example, that the Amazon rain
forest emits more carbon dioxide than it absorbs, while boreal forests
in Canada, Russia and places where permafrost is melting absorb more
than they emit, Crisp said.
They also can detect the “glow” of photosynthesis in plants, which helps
monitor drought and predict food shortages that can lead to civil unrest
and famine, he said.
“This is really critical,” Crisp said. “We’re learning so much about
this rapidly changing planet.”
The decision to end the missions is “extremely shortsighted,” said
Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist at the University of Michigan.
“The observations provided by these satellites ... (are) critical for
managing growing climate change impacts around the planet, including in
the U.S.," he said.
Looking to Congress
Crisp and others hope Congress will vote to preserve funding for the
missions, which are funded through the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.
A bill in the House closely aligns with the president’s request and
would eliminate the missions, while a Senate version preserves them. But
with Congress in recess, it is unclear whether a budget will be adopted
before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
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This artist rendering provided by NASA shows the Orbiting Carbon
Observatory 2. (NASA/John Howard/JPL via AP)
If it doesn't, Congress could adopt a resolution to continue current
funding until a budget is passed, though some lawmakers fear the Trump
administration could try to delay or withhold that money.
Congressional Democrats warned acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy last
month that it would be illegal to terminate missions or impound funds
already appropriated by Congress.
Experts said the administration's move to eliminate funding aligns with
other actions to cut or bury climate science.
“The principle seems to be that if we stop measuring climate change it
will just disappear from the American consciousness,” said University of
Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann.
Backup plan
Crisp and others also are trying to put together a coalition of outside
partners — including from Japan and Europe — that could fund and operate
the instrument attached to the space station. NASA said it will accept
outside proposals through Aug. 29.
The free-flying satellite, though, is at risk of being brought down,
meaning it would burn up in the atmosphere. National Public Radio first
reported that NASA employees were making plans to end the missions.
Crisp said advocates are hoping NASA also allows outside control of that
satellite, which covers more of the globe, but there are legal hurdles
to overcome because it would mean giving control of a U.S. satellite to
a group that could include foreign partners.
“We’re going out to billionaires. We’re going out to foundations,” Crisp
said. “But ... it’s a really, really bad idea to try and push it off
onto private industry or private individuals or private donors. It just
doesn’t make sense.”
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