NASA preparing for steep workforce cuts but hopeful it can avoid more layoffs

As NASA ramps up plans to return to the moon and, eventually, Mars, it is moving forward with plans to shrink its workforce by incentivizing employees to leave government. 

The space agency is hoping to avoid further involuntary layoffs as part of its plan, leaders at multiple NASA centers told employees at town hall meetings in recent days, but it could not rule them out entirely. Those officials did not offer details on whether NASA has a target in mind for how much it plans to reduce the workforce, but some documents obtained by Government Executive show they expect the cuts to be significant. 

NASA officials have told employees they may receive a second “deferred resignation” offer to allow staff to take paid leave until they exit government by Sept. 30, as well as early retirement and buyouts, to incentivize departures from the agency. These options were submitted as part of NASA's reduction-in-force and reorganization plan, employees who attended the meetings in which the plans were shared said, which all agencies had to turn over to the Office of Personnel Management and the White House in recent weeks. 

Still, NASA has created a small team that is combing through employees personnel records to prepare for potential RIFs. Employees were told that any such layoffs would focus on work determined to be unnecessary, rather than the circumstances of individual employees including whether they are remote. 

Despite rumors to the contrary, NASA did not include a proposal to close any of its centers as part of its reorganization plan. Agency officials speaking with employees at town halls could not guarantee such closures would not happen, however, those attending said. 

Cheryl Warner, a NASA spokesperson, declined to lay out any details of NASA’s plans. 

“NASA submitted the next phase of its Workforce Optimization Plan, which outlines multiple potential high-level organizational and governance models for NASA’s future structure,” Warner said. “A new administrator, once confirmed, will have the opportunity to review the work to date and direct the path forward.”

One major location that has faced rumors of being at risk is Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, which employs 3,061 federal civil service employees. Last week, the center’s director, Makenzie Lsytrup, announced it was immediately canceling its lease in New York City that housed the Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Twenty-eight NASA employees—who work on Earth Sciences, climate modeling and atmospheric chemistry—reported to the facility and will now work remotely until the agency can find a new space. 

Documents recently shared with Goddard employees in Maryland projected the center would lose 18% of its federal staff over the next two years before accounting for any additional incentives. The first round of deferred resignations, the ongoing hiring freeze and historical attrition rates would lead to such a reduction. 

Faraz Khan, legislative director for the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, which represents many NASA employees, also said his members have been told that more RIFs are not part of the agency’s plans, but there is “tremendous uncertainty on what is driving management decisions.” That uncertainty has been particularly hard felt at Goddard. 

NASA has already gone through one round of RIFs: the agency closed its Office of the Chief Scientist and the Office of Technology Policy and Strategy and sent RIF notices to their roughly 20 employees on March 10. The latter office included the Office of the Chief Economist, which helped NASA increase engagement with commercial space companies and understand the economic potential of space. Acting Administrator Janet Petro told staff at the time the cuts were “difficult adjustments,” but the agency viewed them as “an opportunity to reshape our workforce.” 

The Trump administration is looking to significantly scale back funding for NASA. In a “passback” document from the White House to the agency, the Science Mission Directorate would see a 50% cut in fiscal 2026 and the astrophysical division would be slashed by nearly 70%. The agency would face an overall reduction of 20%. 

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., has vowed to “fight tooth and nail” against the cuts, saying the proposal is “not just shortsighted, it’s dangerous.” 

“NASA Goddard and the NASA science missions are critical to discovering the secrets of the universe and the planet we live on and have a direct bearing on our leadership in technological innovation and our national security,” Van Hollen said. 

Some NASA employees said they expect the agency will hold off on finalizing its workforce plans until President Trump’s choice to lead the agency, Administrator-designate Jared Isaacman, is confirmed by the Senate. At a recent confirmation hearing, Isaacman, a businessman who has commanded SpaceX missions, said he would push back against cuts to the science directorate. He voiced strong support for the Artemis missions to return NASA astronauts to the moon and for future manned missions to Mars. Artemis II is set to send four astronauts around the moon in early 2026, while Artemis III is scheduled to send astronauts to land on the moon in 2027. 

Isaacman is scheduled for a vote before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Wednesday and, if approved, would then await a vote on the Senate floor.