DOGE Slashes NASA Workforce: Mass Layoffs Threaten U.S. Space Leadership
DOGE (Department of Government EXTINCTION) TRACKER UPDATE
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DOGE v. NASA
📅 Date: February 18, 2025
📰 Action:
The Trump administration, through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has initiated mass layoffs at NASA, cutting 1,000 probationary employees and forcing an additional 750 staff members to resign under the controversial “Fork in the Road” buyout program. The cuts represent a 10% reduction in NASA’s workforce, dealing a severe blow to ongoing space missions, including the 2027 human moon landing.
Critics argue that the firings are politically motivated, designed to consolidate control over NASA’s projects and align the agency’s future with Musk’s private space ventures. The move has sparked fierce backlash from scientists, engineers, and aerospace experts who warn that these actions jeopardize U.S. leadership in space exploration.
🚨 Key Developments:
Mass Layoffs Target NASA Engineers and Scientists – The firings disproportionately impact critical research and mission teams, including those at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
NASA’s Workforce Shrinks by 10% – With 1,750 employees gone, the remaining staff face increased pressure to meet ambitious project deadlines, including Artemis missions.
Industry Experts Sound Alarm – The Planetary Society and the American Federation of Government Employees have condemned the layoffs as reckless and politically driven, warning that the cuts could cripple America’s ability to compete in global space exploration.
🔍 Consequences:
Threat to Moon and Mars Missions – The Artemis program, designed to land humans on the Moon by 2027, is now at risk of delays or even cancellation due to staffing shortages.
Privatization of Space Exploration? – With Musk’s SpaceX dominating U.S. spaceflight, critics worry these cuts pave the way for further privatization, shifting NASA’s role from pioneering research to a supporting contractor for Musk’s ambitions.
Weakened U.S. Space Leadership – As China and other nations ramp up their lunar and Martian exploration programs, NASA’s setbacks could cede space dominance to global competitors.
📌 Sources:
Chron: NASA layoffs will take 10 percent of its workforce: Report
Houston Chronicle: NASA is expected to lay off its probationary employees this week
Planetary Society: The Planetary Society Strongly Opposes Mass Layoffs of Probationary Employees at NASA
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