A new report by the U.S. National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences sharply criticizes NASA's budget and commitment to the Earth sciences, and states that today the nation's Earth observation program is at risk. The report, issued on 27 April, states that recent changes in federal support for Earth observation programs are alarming. At NASA, the vitality of Earth science and application programs has been placed at substantial risk by a rapidly shrinking budget that no longer supports already-approved missions and programs of high scientific and societal relevance.