Tracking this down futher, it appears that the administration was requesting a $900M increase in funding for FY2010 at the House appropriations hearing that was the subject of the article, raising NASA funding to $18.7 billion. But the administration is overdue on its detailed FY2010 budget request. The acting administrator's statement was upbeat. The chairman of the appropriations subcommitee was more somber - noting that the administration is suggesting a flat budget for the next 5 years, that they cannot come up with a replacement for the head of agency, and it appears NASA is trying to do much within its current budget. So, it looks like a developing story that S&T and New Scientist was hyping a bit. - Clear Skies - Kurt The acting administrator's statement: http://appropriations.house.gov/Witness_testimony/CJS/Christopher_Scolese_04_29_\09.pdf Subcommittee Chair statement: http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/CJS-FY10-04-29-09.pdf