NASA has commenced workforce reductions, shuttering three offices and laying off staff in accordance with recent executive orders from the new administration targeting the federal workforce. This action marks the beginning of a broader effort to reshape government agencies.
The closures, announced on Monday, affect the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy; the Office of the Chief Scientist; and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Branch within the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. These cuts will impact 23 employees, as reported by SpacePolicyOnline.com.
These workforce reductions are a direct response to executive orders aimed at eliminating “radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing” and implementing the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) workforce optimization initiative. Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro, in a letter to staff obtained by NASA Watch, characterized these changes as an opportunity to reshape the agency’s workforce, ensuring statutory compliance while providing efficient and effective service to American citizens.
The Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, according to its website, brings together multidisciplinary experts to provide NASA leadership with strategic insights and analyses. The Office of the Chief Scientist advises the NASA administrator on science programs, ensuring alignment with the administration’s science objectives. These offices played key roles in shaping NASA’s strategic direction and scientific endeavors.
This isn’t the first time NASA has faced such actions. Shortly after Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, NASA closed offices related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) and canceled related contracts following an executive order targeting federal employees in DEIA roles. However, these recent layoffs represent a broader effort to reduce government staffing and bureaucracy under the DOGE initiative, spearheaded by Elon Musk.
Other federal agencies are also experiencing workforce reductions under these new directives. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), for instance, is expected to lay off approximately 20% of its workforce, as reported by The New York Times.
These cuts raise concerns about the future of NASA’s scientific activities under the current administration, which appears to favor private spaceflight, as evidenced by the potential appointment of commercial astronaut Jared Isaacman to lead the agency. Musk, leading DOGE, has also criticized the bureaucracy of national space programs, advocating for a more aggressive, streamlined approach. The NOAA cuts further suggest a disregard for climate change research, a critical area of NASA’s scientific focus. This initial round of cuts could signal a challenging period for NASA, potentially impacting its scientific contributions and overall mission.
