NASA Faces Deep Cuts Amid Budget, Staff, Leadership Turmoil

NASA is set to lose nearly 4,000 employees—over 20% of its workforce—after two rounds of the Trump administration's Deferred Resignation Program, reducing staff from approximately 18,000 to 14,000. The program, aimed at streamlining operations and avoiding involuntary layoffs, has raised major concerns among staff and scientists about the potential loss of critical expertise and mission readiness, particularly for upcoming lunar and Mars missions. The workforce reduction aligns with a proposed 24-25% cut to NASA's fiscal 2026 budget, lowering it from about $24-25 billion to $18-19 billion, although some congressional actions have temporarily restored funding to certain programs. Leadership turmoil, including recent high-profile resignations and political disputes, has intensified debate over NASA's future direction. Critics argue that the cuts are arbitrary and may contradict congressional appropriations, putting U.S. space ambitions at risk. NASA maintains its commitment to safety and mission priorities amid these sweeping changes.