In this episode, the (domestic) American sector of Astro[sound]bites covers the recent proposed budget cuts to NASA, the largest in NASA’s entire history. We cover the downsides that these cuts would have for science and the economy, and what you can do to speak out. How to reach out:Find your representative:https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative AAS Letter Writing Guidelines for Astronomers: https://aas.org/advocacy/get-involved/action-alerts/action-alert-2025-support-science Planetary Society Letter Writing Guidelines for the General Publichttps://www.planetary.org/advocacy-action-center#/53 Astrobite with Guidelines for Letter Writinghttps://astrobites.org/2025/04/15/help_nasa/ Sources: The Budget Request (NASA Stuff begins on page 39 of the pdf)https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Fiscal-Year-2026-Discretionary-Budget-Request.pdf Original ArsTechnica Report:https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/04/trump-white-house-budget-proposal-eviscerates-science-funding-at-nasa/ NASA’s economic output:https://www.nasa.gov/fy-2023-economic-impact-report/#:~:text=NASA%20Boosts%20the%20U.S.%20Economy,D.C.%2C%20in%20fiscal%20year%202023. NASA’s economic output reaches all 50 states:https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasas-economic-benefit-reaches-all-50-states/ NASA’s research on climate changehttps://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/ NASA’s research on asteroid defensehttps://science.nasa.gov/planetary-defense/ NASA Education and Outreachhttps://www1.grc.nasa.gov/space/education-outreach/ Cuts disproportionately affect marginalized groups:https://www.fastcompany.com/91328007/trumps-federal-layoffs-are-disproportionately-impacting-women-and-people-of-color