NASA employees affected by the cuts are ‘probationary’ staff who were recently hired or moved into new positions. [Courtesy: NASA]
Key Takeaways:
NASA laid off nearly 1,000 "probationary" employees, with an additional 750 accepting deferred resignations, resulting in a nearly 10% workforce reduction since early 2025.
The directive for these layoffs originated from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), with NASA stating it is complying with the guidance.
The Planetary Society condemned the firings as the largest involuntary workforce reduction since the Apollo program, warning of severe negative impacts on the U.S. space economy and capabilities.
Further workforce reductions may be on the horizon, as indicated by a recently appearing interim directive detailing a future reduction in force (RIF) across NASA facilities.
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.
