Future astrophysics funding requires both ambition and accountability

Originally published on Nature.

Current funding challenges in astrophysics present an opportunity to secure its future through ambition, accountability and readiness for a world where breakthrough science is increasingly done in big teams.

Astrophysics from space faces a challenging time, most visibly in the USA, but also in Europe and beyond. We must reassert its value: expanding perspective, driving innovation, and strengthening national capabilities amid global competition.

But we must also shed the sense of entitlement, communicate more broadly, and focus on the key enablers. No mission, however scientifically compelling, can ignore cost constraints or add technical complexity without justification. Great missions rely on many individuals navigating the intersection of science, engineering, and fiscal reality. Until we recognize and reward that kind of leadership — and accept that excellence requires discipline as well as vision — we will limit our potential in astrophysics.

During my six years as Head of Science at NASA, I never gave a talk without an eagle somewhere on a slide, to me symbolizing astrophysics’ two pillars: new perspectives and leadership through discovery. Astrophysics is the science of dreams — we study how time began and search for life beyond Earth. It is hard to give a science talk that captures our imagination more than one with new images from JWST, Euclid, LIGO, and others. But successes like these also showcase technological leadership, much like the Apollo Moon landings.

Though countries view leadership differently, global and technological leadership have long been drivers of investment in astrophysics in the USA. China and Japan share this narrative. In Europe, partnership often features more prominently in political narratives, though the ambition to be among scientific leaders remains. Across nations, inspiring learners of all ages is a common priority.

Many scientists believe the inspirational and scientific value of the broadened perspectives offered by astrophysics should fully justify its funding, but wider arguments increasingly shape the conversation. For instance, astrophysics, alongside Earth sciences, drives technologies vital for national defence, which is rapidly expanding into space. Infrared and X-ray sensors — core astrophysics tools — are critical for such applications. As defence budgets are now growing 5–10% annually in many countries, technologies developed for astrophysics missions attract growing strategic interest, especially amid rising global tensions.

Given all this, it may feel puzzling that NASA’s science portfolio is facing its steepest proposed cuts in decades — hitting astrophysics the hardest. Initial congressional responses have been encouraging, with both chambers largely rejecting these reductions. Though Congress has pushed back on cuts, the uncertainty is already leading to mass layoffs and reduced hiring opportunities in universities and labs.

For this, and every other challenge we face, we should direct our anxieties towards a simple goal: to never let a good crisis go to waste. How can we turn these challenges into long-term strength? In fact, what can we do to get astrophysics funded in the future?

I have three observations that may help address these questions.

First, in a world of rising geopolitical tensions and strained public budgets, astrophysics can appear dispensable. After public talks, I’m sometimes asked: Why fund space science when so many struggle to meet basic needs? Why invest in astrophysics amid threats to peace in Europe and beyond? In response I point out that cutting fundamental science means losing out on technologies and industries that drive economic growth and national security. One example among many is the emergence of AI-enabled in-space data analysis and its applications in civil and defence domains. These arguments may feel uncomfortable to academics, but they are increasingly essential.

Second, the astrophysics community has at times undermined itself through the stories it tells. A relentless push by scientists for higher performance has often come at the expense of cost control and sound management. Once the first image arrives, no one remembers the delays or overruns, is a common refrain I have heard, but it’s no longer true. This mindset has eroded trust and weakened support for future missions. On Capitol Hill, I’m still reminded of JWST’s troubled path. Mars Sample Return’s ballooning costs only deepen concerns.

Yet there’s a better path. The NASA Roman Space Telescope team has shown that breakthrough science and disciplined budgeting can go hand in hand. The mission remains on budget and is nearly a year ahead of schedule. This is thanks to hard conversations, focused science goals, and the willingness to rightsize ambitions to fit budgets. We must shed the notion that science is justified at any cost. Yes, science performance matters, but so does accountability. Only by embracing both can we build the future missions our science deserves.

Third, large projects depend on enablers who rarely receive the recognition they deserve. It takes instrument builders dedicating a decade or more before the first data return, and programme scientists working with engineers to solve design and development challenges. Yet, in astrophysics and other sciences, we tend to honour mostly those who generate scientific results and publish many papers but rarely recognize those who deserve much of the credit for telescopes like JWST.

I once analysed a group of such scientists and leaders at NASA and found that fewer than 5% had received any professional recognition by their science communities or prestigious fellowships in their respective domains. This massive blind spot has important consequences when building big projects. It hampers our ability to recruit and retain the kind of leadership essential to enabling bold, team-based science, and it creates value systems that are not aligned with the broad interest and the future of the community.

It is now time to reach out and become active on all these fronts. First, please get out of the bubble. Talk to policymakers, industry, the public, not just about wonder and discovery, but about how astrophysics builds capabilities that keep nations secure and economies competitive. Second, stop rewarding only the visionaries. Recognize the builders of big science — instrument developers, project scientists, systems engineers, for instance. Third, demand excellence in execution, and the application of discipline in scope, budget, and planning. Let’s build the best mission for the money, not the best mission we can imagine. And finally, invest in students and early-career colleagues. They will imagine and build the next generation of telescopes — and they need our support now.

You can read the article on Nature, where it was originally published, here.

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