Nasa is set to lose more than 2,000 senior-level employees as part of a push to cut government staff. According to documents obtained by POLITICO, 2,145 employees in top roles are expected to leave the space agency in the coming months. Many of them have years of experience and play key roles in Nasa's science and space missions.
Most of those leaving are part of the GS-13 to GS-15 pay grades, which include people with special technical skills and management positions. Out of the total 2,694 civil workers planning to leave Nasa, a large number are involved in important missions like space research and human spaceflight.
Experts are concerned this could delay Nasa's goals of sending astronauts to the Moon by 2027 and later to Mars, especially since many of the departing employees work in mission planning, engineering, and operations.
Which Nasa centers are affected?
The job cuts are spread across Nasa' 10 main centres across the US, including:
These centres handle everything from rocket launches and astronaut training to building spacecraft and studying the solar system.
Why are they leaving?
Nasa is offering employees early retirement, buyouts, and voluntary resignations. The move follows the White House's proposed 2026 budget, which plans to cut Nasa funding by 25 per cent and reduce its staff by over 5,000 people. If approved by Congress, it would bring Nasa's workforce to its smallest size since the 1960s.
One Nasa employee, who chose to remain anonymous, said they are leaving partly due to fear about the future budget and the lack of a permanent Nasa chief. "Things just sound like it's going to get worse," the staffer said.
Nasa responds
Nasa spokesperson Bethany Stevens said the agency is still focused on its big goals:
"Nasa remains committed to our mission as we work within a more prioritized budget," she told POLITICO. "We are working closely with the Administration to ensure that America continues to lead the way in space exploration."
Most of those leaving are part of the GS-13 to GS-15 pay grades, which include people with special technical skills and management positions. Out of the total 2,694 civil workers planning to leave Nasa, a large number are involved in important missions like space research and human spaceflight.
Experts are concerned this could delay Nasa's goals of sending astronauts to the Moon by 2027 and later to Mars, especially since many of the departing employees work in mission planning, engineering, and operations.
Which Nasa centers are affected?
The job cuts are spread across Nasa' 10 main centres across the US, including:
- Goddard Space Flight Centre (Maryland): 607 employees
- Johnson Space Centre (Texas): 366 employees
- Kennedy Space Centre (Florida): 311 employees
- Nasa Headquarters (Washington, D.C.): 307 employees
- Others: Langley (VA), Marshall (AL), Glenn (OH), and more
These centres handle everything from rocket launches and astronaut training to building spacecraft and studying the solar system.
Why are they leaving?
Nasa is offering employees early retirement, buyouts, and voluntary resignations. The move follows the White House's proposed 2026 budget, which plans to cut Nasa funding by 25 per cent and reduce its staff by over 5,000 people. If approved by Congress, it would bring Nasa's workforce to its smallest size since the 1960s.
One Nasa employee, who chose to remain anonymous, said they are leaving partly due to fear about the future budget and the lack of a permanent Nasa chief. "Things just sound like it's going to get worse," the staffer said.
Nasa responds
Nasa spokesperson Bethany Stevens said the agency is still focused on its big goals:
"Nasa remains committed to our mission as we work within a more prioritized budget," she told POLITICO. "We are working closely with the Administration to ensure that America continues to lead the way in space exploration."
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