NASA Cuts 10% of Workforce as Part of Trump's Downsizing Effort

What Happened?

The Trump administration continues its swift actions of reducing the federal government with another series of cuts that includes NASA headquarters.

Around 10% of NASA's 18,000 member workforce have reportedly been slashed Tuesday as future cuts are planned for the world's preeminent space agency.

Roughly 750 NASA employees accepted 'deferred resignation' offers inspired by billionaire Elon Musk who is co-leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Federal employees were encouraged to resign by February 12 in exchange for getting paid behind eight-month buyout offers for those who opted to leave their jobs.

This all comes after the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) reportedly instructed workplace leaders to proceed to terminate thousands of probationary workers.

As many as 200,000 federal employees are set to be affected by the mass layoffs planned by the Trump administration.

Shock waves among the scientific community impacted neuroscientist Rick Huganir after reading a new policy, designed to slash indirect research costs.

Such costs help keep research institutes afloat, which could reportedly stall 25 years of work.

President Donald Trump has reportedly warned of cuts in federal funding for academic institutions and universities if they continue with DEI programs that he has attempted to dismantle.

Why it Matters

President Trump's newly signed executive order has empowered DOGE to carry out these mass mandates to reduce the nation's debt deficit.

Some Republican leaders reportedly worry DOGE efforts may derail a $93 billion Artemis program aimed at putting American boots back on the moon.

Overall, federal departments will have limited ability to hire more staffers without DOGE being coordinated for future hiring plans.

Out of 2.3 million federal workers, data shows about 220,000 federal workers had less than one year of experience as of March 2024 part of targeted groups.

In the education sector, the Trump administration issued a two-week notice for America’s schools and universities to eliminate diversity initiatives or risk losing federal money.

The Education Department announced $600 million in grant cuts for organizations that train teachers.

DOGE has claimed it's saving the federal government nearly $1 billion per day by its recent moves.

How it Affects You

A number of GOP lawmakers are reportedly rallying around such efforts as the Artemis program.

It could reflect just one example of things some congressional members may ultimately take a stand for in the effort to halt some slashing momentum.

As constitutional conflict brews, the president could face challenges that determine if he can refuse to spend what Congress directs him to.

There are key funding measures ahead during these unprecedented times that will require a unified Congress to see eye to eye amid these fast-moving decisions.