NASA says 20% of staff to leave agency

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration said Saturday that 20% of its employees are set to leave the agency, a spokesperson said.

About 3,870 employees are set to leave, which would leave the agency with around 14,000 employees.

The spokesperson added that the number may change in the future.

NASA staff opted for voluntary separation programs. This move is part of a broader White House initiative to streamline the federal workforce and comes amid proposed deep budget cuts to the agency.

NASA officials state the voluntary separation programs, including Deferred Resignation, Voluntary Early Retirement, and Voluntary Separation Incentive Programs, are designed to minimize the need for future involuntary layoffs and prepare the agency for a "Golden Era of exploration and innovation," particularly focusing on missions to the Moon and Mars.

The agency expects its civil service headcount to drop to around 14,000 by January 9, 2026, after accounting for these departures and regular attrition.

The reductions are largely driven by the Trump administration's proposed 2026 budget, which seeks a 25% cut to NASA's overall funding and a drastic 47% reduction in science funding, potentially canceling over 40 missions.

A Supreme Court ruling on July 8, 2025, affirmed the administration's authority to proceed with federal workforce reductions. Additionally, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) ended its telework policy, a move some employees perceive as a "silent layoff" for those unable to return to on-site work.

However, the mass exodus has sparked significant concern over a potential "brain drain" – the irreplaceable loss of highly specialized institutional knowledge crucial for complex missions.

The "Voyager Declaration," an open letter from hundreds of current and former NASA employees, warns that these cuts could jeopardize mission safety and performance. Specific concerns include threats to planetary defense efforts, the Mars Sample Return mission, and the dismantling of the Office of the Chief Scientist, which ensured scientific integrity.