In December 2017, the first Trump administration issued Space Policy Directive-1, a presidential memorandum that reorganized the United States’ lunar exploration programs into a new, overarching program, dubbed Artemis. The sub-programs that comprise Artemis have included a variety of systems, including the Space Launch System (SLS), the Orion crew capsule and the lunar Gateway station. In NASA budgetary requests, these programs are grouped under the category of “Exploration”.

As a result of its ambitious objectives, massive resource demands and technological complexity, the program has been an enormous investment. According to a 2021 NASA audit, programs associated with Artemis would cost approximately $93 billion by 2025. Such spending has led to criticism from Congress,

particularly following a series of delays and cost overruns.

In the wake of the Trump administration’s recent cost-cutting measures, many expressed concerns that Artemis would see its funding slashed. However, the administration’s budget request for FY 2026 actually called for an increase (from $7.6 billion in 2025 to $8.3 billion in 2026) in funding for programs categorized under the “Exploration” line item, with the caveat that key programs like SLS and Orion would soon be phased out. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether these increases will survive tense Congressional budgetary negotiations.

This question will resolve positively if the FY 2026 NASA appropriations bill passed by Congress and signed by the president includes an “Exploration” line item with a total value of at least $8.3 billion by December 31, 2025.