NASA announced on Friday evening a significant reduction in its workforce, with nearly 4,000 employees choosing to accept the Trump administration’s deferred resignation option.
The decision to trim the agency’s staff by 20% comes as part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and aligning with the federal government’s downsizing initiatives under the Trump administration. The reduction will see nearly 4,000 employees leaving the agency, reducing NASA’s workforce from around 18,000 to approximately 14,000 personnel. This includes about 500 employees who were lost through normal attrition. The layoffs are being implemented through the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), a buyout initiative introduced across the federal government to slash costs and reduce the size of the workforce. The figures come from NASA News Chief Cheryl Warner, who shared them in an email to reporters on Friday.
The cuts come following this week’s publication of the “Voyager Declaration,” an open letter of dissent from employees to Interim NASA Administration Sean Duffy. “We are compelled to speak up when our leadership prioritizes political momentum over human safety, scientific advancement, and efficient use of public resources.” the signatories wrote. “These cuts are arbitrary and have been enacted in defiance of congressional appropriations law. The consequences for the agency and the country alike are dire.”
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