Latest news with #DeferredResignationProgram
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
NASA to lose thousands of employees to voluntary resignation
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is set to lose nearly 4,000 employees as a result of a voluntary resignation programme, part of a broader push from President Donald Trump's administration to cut the federal workforce. The first round of resignations came at the beginning of the Trump administration when the workers received emails that offered them a buyout.(AFP/Representational Image) The exact number of employees can change as NASA reviews applications, reported Bloomberg, adding that the space agency will lose roughly 3,870 people. Talking about the resignations, NASA told Bloomberg that the agency is focusing on becoming more streamlined, with the main focus on safety. 'More efficient organisation and work will ensure we remain fully capable of pursuing a Golden Era of exploration and innovation, including to the Moon and Mars,' NASA said further. Through the government's Deferred Resignation Program, NASA gave its employees two opportunities in 2025 to leave the organisation. The agency says that its remaining civil servant workforce is expected to be about 14,000 people after both resignation programs. Two rounds of deferred resignation The first round of resignations came at the beginning of the Trump administration when the workers received emails that offered them a buyout. This effort was headed by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. As the offer spread, about 870 people or 4.8 per cent of the NASA employees, took the offer then. Meanwhile, the second round of deferred resignation began in early June, with the deadline to choose by July 25. This offer was then taken up by about 3,000 personnel, or 16.4% of the workforce, as per NASA. Deferred resignation as way to avoid layoffs Executives at NASA have encouraged deferred resignation as a way to avoid layoffs, to reduce the workforce and comply with the trump administration's goal of reducing the workforce. According to an audio recording obtained by Bloomberg, Janet Petro said during an emergency town hall meeting in June that the reason NASA is doing this is to minimise the involuntary cutback in workforce in the future. 'That is our whole goal, minimising that,' he said further. In February, NASA sought a 'blanket waiver' to protect the agency's probationary employees from layoffs. Concerns of NASA losing talent The prospects of mass cutoffs have raised concerns in the agency, with some experts arguing that this can cause NASA to lose some of the best talent within the agency. A letter to the newly appointed NASA interim administrator, Sean Duffy, signed by hundreds of former and current employees, warned the agency about the potential harm of workforce reductions. The letter titled 'The Voyager Declaration' stated that the cutback could jeopardise the safety and efficiency of operations. It talked about the thousands of civil servant employees who have already been terminated, resigned or taken an early retirement, ' taking with them highly specialised, irreplaceable knowledge crucial to carrying out NASA's mission,' the letter said, highlighting the consequences of the workforce reduction.
News18
3 days ago
- Business
- News18
NASA to Lose 20% of Workforce Amid Trump Administration Restructuring
Last Updated: About 20% of NASA's workforce will leave the agency as it undergoes restructuring under the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the federal government size. Under major restructuring move, around 20 per cent of the workforce at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is set to leave the agency, a spokesperson confirmed on Friday. In line with the Trump administration's move to lay off federal employees, NASA's workforce would shrink from over 18,000 employees to around 14,000. Approximately 3,870 NASA employees have opted to leave through the government's Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), though the agency noted the figure may change in the coming weeks as applications are finalized or withdrawn. NASA in an official statement said this is an effort to make the agency more 'streamlined and efficient". 'Safety remains a top priority for our agency as we balance the need to become a more streamlined and more efficient organization and work to ensure we remain fully capable of pursuing a Golden Era of exploration and innovation, including to the Moon and Mars," NASA said in a statement. This is the second time that NASA employees are leaving the agency. In June 2025, the first round, initiated shortly after Trump's inauguration, offered a buyout to federal workers, resulting in the voluntary departure of around 870 NASA employees—roughly 4.8 per cent of its workforce at the time. As per a report by Politico, published earlier this month, the Trump administration was reportedly planning to cut at least 2,145 senior ranking NASA employees, most of those equipped with specialised skills and managerial abilities. The report added that the agency had offered the affected staff early retirement, buyouts and deferred resignations. view comments First Published: July 28, 2025, 15:06 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Nasa under attack: Mass layoffs, budget cuts hit American space dominance
As the American space agency prepares for the launch of four astronauts to the International Space Station as part of Crew-11 mission, Nasa is in the midst of an unprecedented scientists, engineers, and workers across the United States are protesting a sweeping wave of layoffs following dramatic budget cuts enacted under the Trump administration. Nearly 20% of the agency's workforce, estimated at 3,870 employees, are set to leave, dramatically shrinking Nasa from over 18,000 employees to around 14,000. Many agency veterans say morale has plummeted. (Photo: Reuters) advertisementSWEEPING CHANGES The departures come via the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), a buyout-style initiative introduced as part of a broader federal effort to create a 'leaner and more efficient' officials insist the agency remains committed to safety and exploration goals, including planned missions to the Moon and Mars, internal experts warn that the loss of institutional knowledge and talent poses grave risks to future protests broke out over the weekend, with hundreds of Nasa employees, contractors, their families, and supporters gathering outside iconic sites like the Smithsonian National Air and Space UNDER THREATRally organisers decried what they called 'preemptive compliance' with an unfinished budget, fearing the agency's storied legacy and scientific safety standards had been undermined before Congress had finalised funding agency veterans say morale has plummeted. The layoffs, implemented in two waves throughout 2025, have triggered a chain reaction of resignations and retirements, with workers expressing concerns that crucial 'brain drain' is happening too quickly for any meaningful succession planning.'We are here because Nasa is under attack,' one protest leader declared, warning that the erosion of experience and oversight could imperil future missions and even astronaut safety. The departures come via the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP). (Photo: Reuters) Adding to frustrations, nearly 300 Nasa scientists and engineers have co-signed the 'Voyager Declaration,' an open letter protesting the funding cuts and organisational declaration cautions that the rapid personnel losses and elimination of critical programs could bring about 'irreparable damage,' particularly to Nasa's ability to pursue climate research, advanced aeronautics, and deep space assurances from the agency's leadership that safety and innovation remain priorities, those on the front lines say the mass departures and persistent uncertainty have left Nasa 'demoralised' and at a continue to call on US Congress to act swiftly, warning that America's preeminence in space and science is at stake.- Ends
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘NASA is under attack': Massive NASA layoffs see 20% staff fired amid Donald Trump's fund cuts; nationwide protests erupt
Image: Nearly 20% of NASA's workforce — approximately 3,870 employees — have exited the agency following major funding cuts under the Trump administration's plan to downsize federal agencies. The layoffs stem from the Deferred Resignation Program, with officials describing the move as an effort to make NASA 'leaner and more efficient.' The decision has triggered widespread backlash from scientists, engineers, and space policy experts, who warn of serious risks to the agency's future missions. Nationwide protests erupted over the weekend, with current and former employees calling the move a direct threat to America's leadership in space. NASA fires thousands under federal downsizing drive The second round of the Deferred Resignation Program, which closed late Friday, saw roughly 3,000 resignations on top of 870 from the first wave of departures after Trump returned to office. Including regular attrition, NASA's workforce has shrunk from over 18,000 to around 14,000, marking a 20% reduction. Those resigning have been placed on administrative leave until their official exit. The move was orchestrated under the Department of Government Efficiency, currently led by Elon Musk. NASA insists that safety remains a top priority, yet internal experts are raising alarms about the loss of institutional knowledge and highly skilled personnel. With Mars and Moon missions central to the Trump administration's ambitions, critics argue these cuts threaten mission readiness. Former NASA officials and space industry leaders are questioning the agency's capacity to manage complex space programs in the coming years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Comfortably: 60m2 prefabricated bungalow for the elderly in Tebas Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo Protests erupt over 'brain drain' and loss of legacy Protests have broken out in several cities including Houston, Washington D.C., and Cape Canaveral, where current and former NASA staff, union representatives, and supporters gathered to oppose the mass layoffs. A letter titled The Voyager Declaration, signed by hundreds of former employees, warns that irreplaceable expertise is being lost at a critical moment for U.S. space exploration. 'This is not streamlining,' one protestor said, 'this is sabotage.' Doubts over leadership as Trump's NASA pick falters Adding to the turmoil, NASA is still being led by an acting administrator after tech billionaire Jared Isaacman, Trump's initial nominee backed by Elon Musk, was rejected for the role. In the absence of permanent leadership, critics argue that the agency is navigating its most challenging transformation without a clear long-term vision or stable command structure.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
NASA fires 20% staff to make itself more 'efficient', 2nd layoffs since Trump took office
Roughly 20% of the workforce at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is set to depart the agency, a spokesperson confirmed Friday, marking a significant shift as the space agency grapples with restructuring under the Trump administration's broader push to reduce the size of the federal government. Approximately 3,870 NASA employees have opted to leave through the government's Deferred Resignation Program(AI-generated image) Approximately 3,870 NASA employees have opted to leave through the government's Deferred Resignation Program, though the agency noted the figure may change in the coming weeks as applications are finalized or withdrawn. After the resignations and natural attrition are accounted for, NASA expects to maintain a civil servant workforce of about 14,000. The reduction, described by the agency as an effort to become 'streamlined and more efficient,' comes amid rising concerns about the potential impact on NASA's mission readiness and safety standards. 'Safety remains a top priority for our agency as we balance the need to become a more streamlined and more efficient organization and work to ensure we remain fully capable of pursuing a Golden Era of exploration and innovation, including to the Moon and Mars,' NASA said in a statement. This is the second major wave of departures since President Donald Trump re-entered office and resumed efforts to shrink the federal workforce. The first round, initiated shortly after his inauguration, offered a buyout to federal workers, resulting in the voluntary departure of around 870 NASA employees—roughly 4.8% of its workforce at the time. That effort was coordinated by the Department of Government Efficiency, now led by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. The latest round, launched in early June with a deadline to opt in by July 25, saw around 3,000 additional personnel—about 16.4% of the agency—choose to leave. The program is designed to minimize the need for involuntary layoffs, NASA officials said. 'The reason we are doing this is to minimize any involuntary workforce reductions in the future,' former acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro said during a June 25 agency town hall. 'That is our whole goal, minimizing that.' Future of space agency in jeopardy? Despite reassurances, the departures have ignited debate within the scientific community and inside NASA itself. A growing chorus of current and former employees are warning that the agency may be shedding too much too quickly—at the cost of deep institutional knowledge and mission-critical expertise. In a letter addressed to interim Administrator Sean Duffy, who also heads the Department of Transportation, hundreds of current and former NASA employees expressed concern over the cuts. The letter, titled 'The Voyager Declaration,' cautioned that the agency's ability to execute its complex missions could be compromised. 'Thousands of NASA civil servant employees have already been terminated, resigned or retired early, taking with them highly specialized, irreplaceable knowledge crucial to carrying out NASA's mission,' the letter reads. NASA had earlier sought a 'blanket waiver' in February to protect its probationary employees from layoffs. However, the mass departure now underway highlights the limits of those protective measures.
