Data updated April 3, 2025

What does NASA do?

Updates published annually

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent executive branch agency responsible for the nation’s civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA conducts scientific research to understand Earth and space, develops and tests new aerospace technologies, and conducts human space exploration missions. It operates the International Space Station in partnership with other nations and is advancing plans to return humans to the Moon and explore Mars. It was established in 1958.

In FY 2024,

$25B

was spent by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

In FY 2024,

0.4%

of federal spending was by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

How much does the National Aeronautics and Space Administration spend?

NASA spent $25 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 0.4% of the $6.78 trillion in overall federal spending. The department ranked 18th among federal agencies in total spending.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration accounted for 0.4% of all federal spending in FY 2024.

Share of NASA net spending compared to the top ten highest spending agencies in FY 2024

Federal spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Adjusting for inflation, NASA's federal spending has increased from $19.3 billion in 1980 to $25 billion in 2024.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 1980.

Yearly federal net spending by NASA, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 1980–2024

Since 1980, NASA's spending has increased 29.5%, while overall spending has increased 193.7%.

The department’s spending grew less than overall spending, which means that the department’s share of the federal budget decreased. In 2024, NASA accounted for 0.4% of all federal spending. That’s 0.1 percentage points lower than 2014 and 0.5 points lower than in 1980.

Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to NASA, FYs 1980–2024

Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.

In FY 2024, all of the NASA's spending was direct.

The chart below outlines all NASA spending.

How did the National Aeronautics and Space Administration spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to NASA, FY 2024

How many people work for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration?

Some 18,000 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for NASA as of September 2024. This is 2.8% fewer people than the agency staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has decreased 2.8% since 2010.

Number of federal employees working for NASA, September 2010–2024

NASA accounts for 0.8% of the overall federal workforce. As the number of federal employees has changed, so too has the way the workforce is organized, with resources allocated to agencies depending on government priorities. NASA constituted a smaller share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 than in 2010 (0.9%).

While the number of employees on an agency’s payroll contributes to that agency’s expenditures, some agencies have relatively few employees compared to their budget or vice versa, giving them an outsized share of either the budget or the workforce. According to the most recent data, NASA's share of the workforce (0.8%) is larger than its share of the budget (0.4%).

Who leads the National Aeronautics and Space Administration?

NASA is led by an administrator, who is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Their term usually lasts for the duration of the president’s administration but may end sooner if the administrator resigns or is replaced.

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

Office of Personnel Management
FedScope
Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury
Budget of the US Government and Monthly Treasury Statement