Keith’s note: Oh yes, In addition to erasing NASA’s Union rights, this Executive Order says that NASA is “hereby determined to have as a primary function intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work. It is also hereby determined that Chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code, cannot be applied to these agencies and agency subdivisions in a manner consistent with national security requirements and considerations.” No mention of that science and exploration stuff.

Keith’s note: The White House has issued an Executive Order that strips the ability of NASA employees (and employees at other agencies) to organize unions.

• FYI Chapter 71 of Title 5 of the United States Code is known as the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Act. It establishes the rights and obligations for labor organizations and employees in the federal government, covering areas such as employee rights to organize, the duty to bargain in good faith, and procedures for addressing unfair labor practices and grievances.
• According to this new executive order: “Section 1. Determinations. The agencies and agency subdivisions set forth in section 2 of this order are hereby determined to have as a primary function intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work. It is also hereby determined that Chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code, cannot be applied to these agencies and agency subdivisions in a manner consistent with national security requirements and considerations. …. 1-420. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration.”

Keith’s note: In my earlier rant I mentioned the crap that I have been going through which certainly pales in comparison to what NASA and contractor employees have to endure as their dream jobs are stripped away for no reason other than to meet a body count quota. I am pretty good at running interference for all of you who have helped me amass what nonsense is going so as to be able to tell everyone who is affected directly or indirectly without jeopardizing your job. But a thin red line passed today. My bullshit meter pegged at saturation. It’s time to step back. More below.

Keith’s note: Last week two internal NASA directives dropped – except NASA has yet to officially release them: NASA Commercial LEO Space Stations Acquisition Strategy and Directive on Fission Surface Power (FSP) Development.

• From what I have managed to piece together these things were pitched in an end run directly to Sean Duffy – outside of the usual process of surfacing such things to the Administrator – especially in Directive form ready for signature. Both directives were signed on the same day – surprising everyone. Associate Administrators and Center Directors were not alerted or asked for comment. And in the case of the CLD directive, industry was left in the dark and they are not happy.
• Meanwhile, Congress is wondering what passes for planning and transparency at NASA given that the agency is actually adhering to the PBR being the scenes – but saying that they are adhering to Congressional budget intentions when pressed for public content. NASA cant have it both ways.
• Both directives built upon some ideas that had been developed over the past several years and have been kicking around NASA in one form or another. Chief of Staff Brian Hughes has zero experience with spaceflight engineering – so he leans heavily on a couple of his favorite people for ad hoc Rocket Science 101 to find exciting things to pass on to Duffy.
• Duffy is a part timer. Hughes is a gate keeper. NASA needs a real, full time leader – now.

Keith’s note: According to this NASA OIG report NASA’s Standing Review Board Practices: “Standing Review Boards (SRB) conduct independent assessments of programs and projects and offer recommendations to improve performance and reduce risk. However, the SRB process lacks Agency-level oversight, improved SRB composition and training can add greater value to the assessments, improvements are needed to ensure adequacy of SRB engagement and accuracy of information provided to decision-makers, and the SRB process does not adequately capture lessons learned.”

Keith’s note: according to this Reuters article: “NASA Chief of Staff Brian Hughes speaking at the same town hall, agreed, saying it would “probably be considered irresponsible” to wait for the congressional budget process. The letter added that Hughes recently ordered NASA science programs targeted for cancellation in Trump’s budget request to stop issuing press releases celebrating new scientific results and achievements.” In addition, senior staff at recent meetings at NASA with Hughes have been told not to expect any help from Congress in pushing back against the plan embodied in the President’s FY 2026 Budget Request i.e. multiple mission cancellations and large personnel layoffs. This is in direct contrast to an offer made last week to senior NASA staff by Acting Interim Administrator Duffy to listen to – and then consider – pushing for budget increases (restoration) for items planned for deletion – if a solid case can be made. And today the “Voyager Declaration”, signed by many NASA employees complaint about a variety of unpopular actions, certainly made national news. Word has it that Hughes and his staff were not at all pleased by this or the news coverage – especially CNN’s article. Meanwhile, consolidation of and deletion of various NASA social media accounts continues. Of course this has a side benefit of allowing those missions now scheduled to go away to not have any mention made of whatever scientific results they are still quite capable of providing. This of course hastens the ability for them to just fade away.

Keith’s note: this popped out of the White House on Thursday. You may recall the earlier Schedule F thing “that will make it easier to remove federal employees it believes are undercutting President Trump’s agenda.” Now there is Schedule G which involved bringing in a new type of political/policy employee for the duration of an Administration only. Here is the stated rationale for this new classification: “Creating Schedule G fills this gap and facilitates appointments of non-career federal employees who will serve temporarily and implement the policy agenda prescribed by the American people through our elections. This will improve operations, particularly in agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, by streamlining appointments for key policy roles.”

Keith’s note: Here’s a snapshot of where things stand in the DRP (Deferred Resignation Program) arena: Over 2,600 NASA employees have taken the deal so far and the window doesn’t even close until 25 July. In addition, there are another 350 or non-DRP departures scheduled. Add that up and you have over 17% of the NASA workforce planning imminent departure. Over 70 SES employees are leaving – that includes Human Resource directors, the CIO, and the CISO. Center Directors are also planning departures. NASA is going to be at the lowest level of employees since it was founded. At this rate an agency-wide RIF may not be needed but focused RIFs at centers may still be called for. People without options are staying behind risking RIF exposure with an increasingly bad job market. Back at NASA, with large gaping holes in expertise at forming, you have to know that reassignments and relocations are going to be required to “re-balance” things. Of course the contractor workforce gets doubly screwed since they have no real protections. University researchers will be left high and dry. And you can forget about nurturing the pipeline of next generation space scientists and engineers. This is not making space great again. Rather, it is NASA being taken off of the playing field while other nations ramp up and reach for the prize.

Keith’s note: According to White House looks to freeze more agency funds — and expand executive power in Politico: “OMB’s targets include NSF research and education programs that operate using funding leftover from 2024. Also on the list are … more than $100 million in science spending at NASA, which includes climate research.” Meanwhile, internal agency sources report that NASA is already implementing aspects of FY 2026 budget request – now – sometimes using FY 2025 dollars. And they are emboldened in so doing by various Executive Orders from the White House and loyalists on the 9th floor. NASA is acting as if FY 2026 request is the de facto operating plan going forth. Dozens of NASA mission teams are scrambling to complete shutdown plans to make it easier for NASA to start flipping the OFF switch on short notice. The plan is to implement all of the shutdowns etc. effective on 1 October 2025 i.e. as FY 2026 begins – regardless of what the actual status of a real FY 2026 Congressional budget is. By the time there’s a formal budget it will be too late to reverse most – if not all – of these layoffs, shutdowns, and cancellations. Of course, NASA also has RIF plans – but they use euphemisms to say that they don’t. Since not enough people are leaving, something has to give. And don’t count on Congress to come to the agency’s rescue. It’s going to be a long hot summer y’all, so Embrace THAT Challenge.

Keith’s note: This notice describes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) plans to address criminally liable regulatory offenses under the recent executive order on Fighting Overcriminalization in Federal Regulations. [see 90 FR 28818 – Guidance on Referrals for Potential Criminal Enforcement]. (full text below)

Keith’s note: As noted last week there will be a protest outside of NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC from 7:00-11:00 am EDT on Monday, 30 June 2025. Information about the event can be found here. This event has obtained a formal permit from Metro DC Police. The event is endorsed by the Goddard Engineers, Scientists, and Technicians Association (GESTA). But NASA HQ management is not happy about this. This event is not endorsed by and does not represent the views of NASA or any employer doing business with NASA. But you would be wise to be aware of your surroundings and who may be watching you. The employee union is spreading in accurate information by mentioning the word “strike” – which this is not – and no one has ever said it was. Here is what the organizers, NASA employees union, NASA management, and the NASA HQ union says: (More below)

Keith’s note: According to this memo: “As directed by President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) 14303, “Restoring Gold Standard Science” (May 23, 2025), this memorandum provides guidance to Federal departments and agencies (agencies) on implementing Gold Standard Science in the conduct and management of all aspects of their scientific activities, from research design to public communication. By adopting these standards, agencies will strengthen scientific inquiry, rebuild public trust, and ensure the United States continues as the global leader in rigorous, evidence-based science. As directed by the EO, each agency shall report to me the actions they are taking to implement this Guidance within 60 days (by August 22, 2025). More details on the contents of this required report are outlined in Section 3 of this memorandum.” Full memo below.

Keith’s note: NASA is consolidating social media accounts (yes this was needed). The FY 2026 NASA Budget Request from the White House eliminates STEM funding, removes all public affairs staff at the field centers, cuts NASA HQ PAO staff, and reduces the overall communications and outreach budgets. And of course diversity, equity, and inclusion is now a forbidden concept. So where is the plan that NASA is following in order to do all of this? Is there a plan for this at NASA? Or does NASA just have a concept of a plan? One would assume that all of these dramatic changes to the public face of NASA are being done according to some overall guidance – yes? What follows are some random questions off the top of my head about the effective education and public outreach and engagement plan that the world’s pre-eminent space agency would need in order to continue to lead the way – and also expand that lead. Or maybe they don’t actually care to have a plan. Or know how. (More below)

Keith’s note: I just spoke with Deutsche Welle about the ongoing social media interaction between Elon Musk and Donald Trump about whatever. [Audio]

Keith’s note: I co-authored an opinion piece in the Houston Chronicle with Lisa Gray: “Make America Great in Space Again? Pfft. Trump is wrecking what we already have.“ — “When it comes to exploring the cosmos, the Trump administration’s quasi-official mantra is “Make America Great in Space Again.” But here’s the thing: NASA is already great. Right now.” More below.

Keith’s note: As the Administration seeks to gut funding of all government science agencies, they have issued another word salad executive order – one that could have been expressed in vastly simpler language. Indeed it calls for a process of conducting science in a transparent and reproducible fashion that has already been in place for nearly a century. Of course, this wordiness is a fig leaf for some specific political issues. e.g. “Actions taken by the prior Administration further politicized science, for example, by encouraging agencies to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations into all aspects of science planning, execution, and communication.” And the response of this Administration is to simply politicize science even more.

Keith’s note: I just got this from USRA/LPI: “Dear Colleagues, We have heard from many of you and understand that there is significant concern among the planetary science community regarding the removal of DEI content from USRA/LPI websites. Please know that we did not make that decision lightly. We were doing our best to comply with our understanding of the Administration’s directives (specifically, Executive Order 14173) and the deadline it set for compliance.”

Keith’s note: NASA’s Planetary Science Analysis/Assessment Groups have issued a document dated 6 May 2025, titled “AGness”. According to the authors (which has been annotated to enhance clarity, original document below), addressing members of the planetary science community: “The linked document below, The Keys of AGness, is a product of the collective Planetary Analysis and Assessment Groups (AGs), presented by their Chairs and vetted through their respective Steering/Executive Committees, and with community feedback. It captures what the community sees as the key pillars and important role of the AGs in the advancement of planetary science now and as we move into the future. The intended audience is multifold and includes NASA leadership, who are in the process of re-imagining the AG structure and support mechanism, and the broader planetary science community as a general reference and reminder of the forums, community building, support, repositories, and voice that the AGs provide.”

Keith’s note: All the space policy ‘experts’ claim that the Administration has a firm “plan” for NASA. If indeed it exists, then the chaos at NASA – programs gutted, people unsure if they have a job, research halted for no reason, paranoid behavior by management, must all be part of that plan, right? Chaos is not a plan. It just pisses people off, wastes money, and reduces productivity. This is not the way to keep America Great In Space. Just sayin’