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Trump's 2026 budget threatens solar telescope operations
President Trump's proposed 2026 budget slashes funding for Hawaii's Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) by 54%, dropping support from $30 million to $13 million. This massive cut could shut down operations at the world's most advanced solar telescope, which only recently began capturing the sharpest images of the sun ever seen.
Other observatories in Hawaii also facing funding cuts
It's not just DKIST—other top Hawaii observatories like Keck and Gemini are also facing big funding hits or complete cutoffs. Scientists and local leaders warn this could mean lost jobs, less groundbreaking research, and even economic trouble for Hawaii. As Representative Jill Tokuda noted, these cuts could lead to the closure of facilities and knock the US back in global astronomy leadership.