NASA is undergoing major staff reductions, cutting its workforce by over 20 percent in line with Trump’s initiative to slim down federal agencies. Nearly 4,000 NASA employees opted to leave through the agency’s deferred resignation program.
The first round saw about 870 workers sign up, while roughly 3,000 more joined in the second round. Add 500 who left due to normal attrition, and NASA’s staff has dropped from 18,000 to around 14,000, the agency confirmed to NewsNation.
“Safety remains a top priority for our agency as we balance the need to become a more streamlined and more efficient organization,” a NASA spokesperson said.
The White House’s May budget proposal would slice NASA’s funding by nearly a quarter, dropping from $24 billion to $18 billion. Over 360 employees pushed back in a joint letter, calling the cuts “arbitrary” and warning of “dire” consequences.
“We are compelled to speak up when our leadership prioritizes political momentum over human safety, scientific advancement, and efficient use of public resources,” they wrote.
This comes as the Trump-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues to drive federal cost-cutting. Meanwhile, NASA’s leadership has been in flux, with Jared Isaacman pulled from a planned confirmation and Sean Duffy now serving as interim administrator.
