NASA employees affected by the cuts are ‘probationary’ staff who were recently hired or moved into new positions. [Courtesy: NASA]
Key Takeaways:
NASA terminated nearly 1,000 probationary employees on Tuesday, following a directive from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
These layoffs, combined with other departures, are expected to reduce NASA's workforce by approximately 10% since early 2025, with potential for further cuts.
The Planetary Society condemned the firings as the largest involuntary reduction since the Apollo program, warning of negative impacts on U.S. space leadership and the broader space economy.
Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
