Almost 4,000 employees at NASA have chosen to leave the agency through a deferred resignation program initiated by the Trump administration. This significant reduction translates to approximately 20% of NASA’s workforce, shrinking the total number of employees from 18,000 to 14,000, as stated by NASA spokesperson Cheryl Warner on Saturday. The overall figure also includes the agency’s loss of 500 workers due to normal attrition.
The program, which closed at midnight on Friday, saw around 3,000 employees apply to exit during its second round, following an initial 870 applications in the first round. These departures align with the administration’s broader strategy to reduce the federal workforce, as recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
NASA has yet to confirm when the full impact of these workforce reductions will materialize or how they will affect the agency’s operations. NPR has reached out to the White House for comments regarding these cuts but has not received a response.
In addition to workforce reductions, the Trump administration has proposed a budget cut for NASA. The fiscal year 2026 budget request, released in May 2023, suggests a decrease in funding by about 24%, reducing it from nearly $25 billion to around $19 billion. Discussions in both the House and Senate are ongoing, with recommendations aiming to maintain NASA’s current budget levels.
Despite potential funding cuts, NASA received a boost earlier this month. The recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act allocates nearly $10 billion in additional funding for NASA through 2032. This funding is intended to support Mars missions and plans for a return to the moon, reversing earlier proposals to retire certain programs.
The proposed budget cuts and organizational changes at NASA have drawn criticism from various sectors, including scientists and space advocacy groups. The Planetary Society, a nonprofit organization led by Bill Nye, expressed discontent with the White House’s budget proposal in May. The organization stated, “A great nation deserves a great space program, one that reflects our national ideals and serves the public interest.” They argued that the proposal not only falls short but also undermines NASA’s unique position to foster unity domestically and promote collaboration internationally through American leadership.
In response to the ongoing changes at NASA, over 300 current and former employees signed and sent a letter known as the “Voyager Declaration” to interim NASA administrator Sean Duffy. The letter critiques what they describe as “rapid and wasteful changes” at the agency, including cuts to vital programs and research initiatives. The signatories urged Duffy to reconsider the proposed cuts, asserting that these measures do not serve the best interests of NASA.
As NASA navigates these substantial changes, the future of the agency and its workforce remains uncertain.