NASA's acting leadership planning new agency structure
10 months ago
- #Budget Cuts
- #NASA
- #Reorganization
- NASA's acting administrator, Janet Petro, is working on a top-level reorganization of the agency, with a decision expected within weeks.
- Three potential reorganization approaches are being considered: mission directorates, a center-centric model, and a product line model.
- Functions currently performed at NASA Headquarters may be moved to field centers, with D.C. focusing on strategic direction and external partnerships.
- The Senate confirmation of a new NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, was withdrawn, and Petro will remain acting administrator for the foreseeable future, possibly until next year.
- NASA's fiscal year 2026 budget proposal includes a 25% overall cut, with significant reductions in science and space technology, and a potential reduction of 6,000 civil servant jobs.
- Agency leaders defended the budget cuts as part of broader government efforts to reduce spending, emphasizing partnerships to stretch the budget.
- Petro noted that despite a 47% cut in the science budget to $3.9 billion, significant science can still be performed.
- The budget proposal could lead to the cancellation of over 40 science projects, according to The Planetary Society.
- NASA is not currently planning layoffs but is offering deferred retirement programs, with 1,500 employees signed up for the second round.
- Contractors are expected to face layoffs due to budget reductions, as 85% of NASA's budget goes to contractors.
- Congress has yet to act on the budget proposal, with NASA likely to start fiscal year 2026 on a continuing resolution at 2025 funding levels.