NASA Workforce Cuts Ahead
NASA is preparing to reduce its workforce by over 20% as part of President Donald Trump’s initiative aimed at streamlining the federal government. This comes as a continuation of a resignation program designed to tackle waste, fraud, and inefficiency.
According to reports, nearly 4,000 employees have already departed from the agency through the first two rounds of this program, which wrapped up late Friday. In total, about 870 employees left in the initial round, while around 3,000 followed in the second. With these departures, NASA’s workforce has decreased from 18,000 to approximately 14,000.
A spokesperson for NASA emphasized that safety remains a top priority, even as the agency seeks to become more efficient while pursuing ambitious goals such as missions to the Moon and Mars.
The recent budget proposal from the White House aims to slash NASA’s funding by 24%, reducing it from $24 billion to about $18 billion. This has raised concerns within the agency.
In a related note, over 300 NASA employees sent a letter earlier this month expressing their worries about the potential implications of these funding cuts. They urged leadership to avoid compromising safety and scientific progress in favor of political agendas.
The letter stated, “These reductions are arbitrary and enacted against the Congressional Expenditure Act.” It’s clear that many within NASA are unsettled about the direction the agency is taking.
