Recently, when downloading data from NASA-related websites, many users have encountered the following message: "Due to the lapse in federal government funding, NASA is not updating this website." Translated, it means: "Due to the lapse in federal government funding, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has suspended updates to this website. We apologize for any inconvenience caused." I tested several websites and found that common ones like NOAA, EarthData, GISS, etc., all display this message. What exactly is happening? And what impact will it have on the vast number of GIS professionals?
Above: Notices on various NASA websites
Cause of the Incident
We need to understand the background: The U.S. federal government's fiscal year starts on October 1 each year and ends on September 30 of the following year. Federal agencies (including NASA) require Congress to pass appropriation bills or continuing resolutions (CR) to obtain annual funding. If these are not passed by the deadline, a "lapse in appropriations" occurs, leading to a partial or full government shutdown.
In 2025, congressional appropriation negotiations reached a deadlock: the necessary appropriation bills for the new fiscal year were not passed by September 30, 2025 (or around that time). The main point of contention is a significant disagreement between the two parties in Congress over the scale of "non-defense spending (including scientific research, education, and space agencies)." The White House proposed cutting NASA's fiscal year 2026 budget from approximately $24.6 billion to about $18.8 billion, a reduction of about 24%. This includes substantial proposed cuts to NASA's scientific missions (such as Earth science, planetary science, and cosmology missions). However, Congress (particularly the Senate) has warned that this would "endanger U.S. leadership in space science" and tends to protect NASA's scientific programs, opposing large-scale cuts.
Therefore, this incident is not a "standalone failure" of NASA websites but rather a problem with the U.S. federal government appropriation system → partial government shutdown → NASA activates contingency plans → leading to the suspension of some services (including website updates).
Above: Similar notices on the official portal of the U.S. Federal Government Department of Commerce
NASA's Response
A NASA document from September 29 indicates that if appropriations lapse and its available balances are exhausted, it will "suspend routine agency operations." The document shows that out of a total staff of approximately 18,218 (as of September 29 data), about 15,094 employees are expected to be furloughed.
Starting October 1, 2025, with the lapse in government appropriations, NASA entered a state of "suspending most operations/furloughing most employees." Approximately 83% of NASA employees have been furloughed (or are expected to be furloughed). Notices such as "Due to the lapse in funding … this blog will not be updated … due-dates will change to TBD" have appeared on multiple data portals and procurement announcements.
Document address: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/nasa-continuity-of-appropriations-plan-final-9-29-2025.pdf?emrc=cd4554&utm_source=chatgpt.com
Main Impacts
For NASA itself, the short-term furlough of employees means a significant weakening of routine agency functions. If the shutdown persists, it could exacerbate risks related to resources, contracts, supply chains, and project delays. Additionally, educational programs, public engagement initiatives, and partnership plans may be put on hold. Collaborative contractors may face disruptions, increased costs, and project delays. The media may interpret this as a sign of dysfunctional U.S. government operations and a budget crisis, potentially affecting public confidence in U.S. space endeavors. In the long term, if budget reduction trends continue, it could negatively impact U.S. leadership in international space competition.
Conclusion
It is unexpected that actions by figures like Donald Trump, far across the ocean, could also affect our GIS industry. In a previous article, "How Should GIS Professionals Respond to the Mexico Bay Renaming Controversy?," I discussed the impact of Trump's maneuvers on domestic GIS professionals. This current turmoil may have more direct consequences. I recommend that if your research papers or projects rely on NASA data, be sure to download and archive it locally promptly. After all, this falls under non-critical, deferrable services for NASA, and who knows when funding might be restored?