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(The Hill) – NASA has cut more than 20% of its workforce since returning to the White House as part of President Trump’s efforts to reduce the federal government.
Approximately 4,000 workers are demanding that the space agency leave the agency through a postponed two-round resignation program. The program deadline was midnight on Friday.
In the first round, around 870 employees applied for leave, and around 3,000 workers did that in the second round. The workforce has been reduced from 18,000 to about 14,000, NASA told Hill’s sister network News Nation.
The agency said the total number also includes 500 workers lost due to normal wear and tear.
A NASA spokesman said in a statement.
A budget proposal from the White House, announced in May, will cut NASA’s overall budget by 24%. The number of toplines will fall from $24 billion to $18 billion.
More than 360 NASA employees sent letters to employers earlier this month, urging them not to make deep cuts, warning them that it would have “disastrous” consequences.
“We are forced to speak out when our leadership prioritizes political momentum over human safety, scientific advancement and the efficient use of public resources,” the workers wrote. “These reductions are arbitrary and are being enacted in ignorance of the Congressional Budget Act.”
The postponed resignation programme helped reduce the size of the federal workforce and reduce costs, waste, fraud and abuse across the federal government through the federal government efficiency (DOGE).
NASA also experienced turbulence earlier this year, and the first choice of tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, the agency manager, was pulled out in late May just days before he was set up a confirmation vote.
Shortly afterwards, Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk were Doge’s chief advisor before leaving the White House, but the public dropped out.
Trump later made Transport Director Sean Duffy the interim NASA administrator, and earlier this month, the former Wisconsin Sen. “We’ve done an incredible job in handling our country’s transportation systems, including creating cutting-edge air traffic control systems, but at the same time rebuilding roads and bridges, making them more efficient and once again efficient.”
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