Astronomy

'It's extremely worrisome.' NASA's James Webb Space Telescope faces potential 20% budget cut just 4 years after launch

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope faces potential 20% budget cuts across all operations despite being at peak performance and high demand. The $317 million budget reduction would impact scientific operations starting October, affecting proposal reviews, data analysis, and observatory efficiency. The cuts come while JWST is only halfway through its primary mission and could operate for 20+ years.