NASA faces crisis as 4,000 staff apply for exit: All the details
NASA is undergoing its biggest internal shake-up in decades, with nearly 4,000 employees opting into a controversial voluntary resignation scheme. The move follows sweeping budget cuts and growing unrest within the agency over the Trump administration’s direction for U.S. space policy.
3,000 resignations in second round NASA confirmed that around 3,000 staff applied to leave during the second round of deferred resignations, which closed on July 25. This follows 870 exits in the first round earlier this year.
Scheme introduced under Elon Musk’s DOGE The buyout policy began in January under the Trump-backed Directorate of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. It offered staff a delayed exit while continuing to receive pay and benefits.
One-fifth of NASA workforce affected Combined, both resignation waves mean nearly 20% of NASA’s total workforce—about 4,000 employees—are now exiting. Over 2,000 of them are senior-level staff, according to Politico.
Internal revolt against NASA leadership A group of current and former NASA employees wrote to interim chief Sean Duffy, warning the cuts “threaten to waste resources, weaken national security, and undermine NASA’s mission.”
Science programmes under threat The biggest casualty of these cuts could be NASA’s science programmes, especially in climate and planetary research. With fewer experts and limited funding, long-term projects may be delayed or cancelled.t
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