Thousands of personnel are departing NASA after accepting voluntary deferred resignation programs. [Courtesy: NASA]
Key Takeaways:
NASA is undergoing a significant workforce reduction, projected to shrink by 20% (to 14,000 personnel) by early next year through voluntary departures, with further deep cuts proposed in the FY2026 budget.
The proposed FY2026 budget calls for a 24% cut to NASA's overall funding and a severe 47% reduction in science spending, drawing widespread criticism for its potential "catastrophic impacts."
These budget and workforce changes are met with strong internal dissent, including the "Voyager Declaration" from hundreds of personnel, and bipartisan congressional opposition seeking to restore funding and protect key programs.
NASA’s course reversal on firing about 1,000 probationary employees in February was hailed as a victory for those opposing cuts to the space agency’s civil workforce, which in January comprised more than 18,000 personnel.
According to the latest update, however, NASA could be 20 percent smaller by January 2026.
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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.
