Posted on 07/09/2025 4:26:45 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
The losses could endanger the administration’s plans for landing astronauts on the moon and Mars.
At least 2,145 senior-ranking NASA employees are set to leave under a push to shed staff, according to documents obtained by POLITICO — potentially spelling trouble for White House space policy and depriving the agency of decades of experience.
The 2,145 employees are those in GS-13 to GS-15 positions — senior-level government ranks that are typically reserved for those with specialized skills or management responsibilities. The losses are particularly concentrated at higher levels, with 875 GS-15 employees set to leave, according to the documents.
Those 2,145 employees, in turn, make up the bulk of the 2,694 civil staff who have agreed to leave NASA under a slate of offers that fall within broader administration efforts to trim the federal workforce, according to the documents. NASA has offered staff early retirement, buyouts and deferred resignations.
Many of those leaving also serve in NASA’s core mission sets, according to the documents. Those leaving include 1,818 staff serving in mission areas like science or human space flight, with the rest performing mission support roles like IT, facilities management or finance.
“You’re losing the managerial and core technical expertise of the agency,” said Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society. “What’s the strategy and what do we hope to achieve here?”
The departures follow a proposed White House budget for 2026 that would slash NASA’s funding by 25 percent and cut over 5,000 staff. The cuts, if enacted by Congress, would force the agency to operate with the smallest budget and staff since the early 1960s.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
How many are global warming fraudsters?
Its HO-Kay
Elon is taking over. ( sarc.)
Assuming the people are worth the salary to a private sector outfit.
I remember when the Shuttle program died. It was much worse than this.
These are a lot of created jobs by the administration.
Like him or not, Musk has pretty much co-opted NASA. They can’t do much without him these days. They couldn’t even rescue their own astronauts. I loved NASA. My Dad was a manager at the Cape and my brother worked at NASA there. I grew up there. But the hey day is over. The politicians got hold of it and ruined it. It needs to be gutted and restarted if possible. But honestly, anything the government touches is crap now. So, I don’t think it’s possible.
I spent 20 years supporting the Air Force, working with GS13 to GS15, as well as some SES. I’d be hard-pressed to think of any of them that were good at their jobs. Power hungry bureaucrats dependent on outside contractors. Active duty military tended to be better — O-4, O-5, O-6 were not all good, but in general they knew what they were doing. The Civil Servants were just bad.
“The losses could endanger the administration’s plans for landing astronauts on the moon and Mars”
Ah yes. Can’t send a craft to get the stranded astronauts on the ISS BUT they’ll be able to land someone on the moon or on Mars. Yeah, Sure.
Why do o we need NASA when SpaceX is the one planning to go to Mars?
What have all these super senior personnel accomplished in this century?
The employees, especially the GS-15’S, are no great loss. Most are probably at retirement age. With commercial space operations, NASA is no longer required. Let industry continue space operations.
My understanding is NASA is just a contractor.
“The cuts, if enacted by Congress...”
Much to do about nothing.
Congress has already voted against following the White House regarding NASA cuts. 😉
The purpose of NASA needs to be updated to reflect changes in the private sector.
So no more Space Shuttle explosions or fireballs?
SORRY-—NOT MUCH SYMPATHY HERE.
THEY HAD PLENTY OF MONEY & UNTOLD YEARS TO LEARN HOW TO “WELCOME THEIR BOOSTERS WITH OPEN ARMS” LIKE ELON’S team does.
“…The cuts, if enacted by Congress, would force the agency to operate with the smallest budget and staff since the early 1960s….”
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The 1960s… when NASA was challenged to get men to the moon and ACTUALLY DID IT.
NASA is a government agency. It issues contracts for designing, building, etc. Most personnel are at the centers throughout the country.
The Federal Aviation Administration provides oversight of the Commercial space operators (just like it provides oversight of air carriers). The Commercial space operators use the National Airspace System just like air carriers and other aircraft operators.
NASA no longer required.
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