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NASA Reverses Course on Firing 1,000 Probationary Employees

Space agency’s probationary personnel had expected to receive termination notices on Tuesday, but none came.

NASA Johnson Space Center
Employees at NASA’s Johnson Space Center were told they were exempt from an ‘impending layoff plan.’ [Courtesy: NASA/Bill Stafford]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Probationary NASA employees, who were previously expected to be among over 1,000 laid off, have largely retained their jobs as termination notices were not issued as anticipated.
  • Key NASA centers, including Johnson, Goddard, and Marshall, received exemptions for their probationary staff, with sources suggesting the agency argued for the criticality of these roles or attributed the change to influence from the NASA administrator nominee.
  • While the probationary layoffs are on hold, hundreds of other NASA employees are still exiting through voluntary deferred resignations, and the long-term status of probationary workers remains uncertain with new guidance expected soon.
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Updated February 20 at 9:15 a.m. EST with comment from NASA.

Probationary NASA workers may be sticking around, at least for now, following earlier reports that the space agency was firing more than 1,000 employees.

Jack Daleo

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.

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