Keith’s note: NASA’s budget is going to be slashed one way or another. Despite all the talk about making NASA more focused – or efficient – or “greater”, NASA science will suffer. Scores of missions will either be canceled, shutdown, or put on indefinite pause. Meanwhile Europe and our officially designated foe China surge ahead to fill gaps that we have created. NASA has yet to find the secret sauce wherein they can walk and chew gum at the same time. i.e. do astonishing things that no one has done before while conveying the scientific value of these accomplishments to decision makers and simultaneously, the practical, everyday utility to people and families as they try and make it through their daily lives. For what it is worth, as I have noted before: NASA has led space science and “Made America Great In Space” for more than half a century. Let’s not let that science leadership fade. Let’s expand it further. This won’t happen on its own. NASA must get its act together, find its mojo again, and put forth the multiple reasons why we should use and explore space – tailored to the various audiences who need – and deserve – to be informed. One size does not fit all. While NASA needs to learn how to explain itself to citizens and policymakers, how it explains its accomplishments on the global stage should be simple. Very simple – since NASA has led the way by:

• touching the sun
• visiting every planet in our solar system
• discovering over 6,000 planets orbiting other stars
• sending humans to walk on another world
• doing the first offworld search for life
• moving an asteroid
• finding water on the Moon and Mars
• discovering oceans inside icy moons
• sailing across interstellar space
• peering back to the dawn of the universe
• developing a global brand that all nations aspire to

Keith’s note: Since there will be no budget emerging from Congress on 30 September, on 1 October the President’s Budget Request for FY 2026 will reign – unfettered. Add in some recision for good measure. The people of NASA will want to know what is going on – from NASA – not NASAWatch. Alas, NASA OCOMM/PAO will have ~60 FTEs laid off i.e. fewer people to explain increasingly more inexplicable things. “Beginning in FY 2026, the Office of Communications will restructure the organization to an Agency or centralized structure vs Center-specific to eliminate functions not statutorily mandated, except functions the Agency deems necessary, consolidate management layers and duplicative functions, and evaluate/implement technological solutions that automate routine tasks.” Source: PBR SD-21

Keith’s note: According to a press release “Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Acting Administrator Sean Duffy expressing her serious concern regarding NASA’s relationship with the Department of Defense (DoD).” More below.

Keith’s note: Have a look at “I’m a former astronaut: NASA workers are afraid, and safety is at risk“ by Garrett Reisman at The Space Review: “I call upon NASA’s interim administrator, Sean Duffy; the new associate administrator, Amit Kshatriya; and the rest of NASA leadership to proceed with caution. Administrator Duffy said just this past week that “sometimes we can let safety be the enemy of making progress.” Based on my experience at SpaceX, I assert that safety and progress are not mutually exclusive, and I challenge NASA to accomplish both without compromising either. Finally, let me remind you that it will be much harder to achieve our national ambitions in space without the contributions of everyone who has the talent and interest to help. So, as you reduce NASA’s workforce and work to reshape its culture it is imperative that you ensure that personnel decisions are made based only on performance and merit and not based on a person’s gender, race or sexual orientation. That is not only the right thing to do for NASA; it is the right thing to do period.”

Keith’s note: according to NBC “A large swath of the U.S. currently does not have the basic, ground-level immunity necessary to stop the spread of viruses that had once receded into the past, a six-month NBC News investigation in collaboration with scientists at Stanford University finds.” Given public policy ignorance that substitutes for epidemiology (Science) I can’t wait for all of the public opinion rants and arm waving about the Environmental Impact Studies for NASA Mars Sample return to Earth. That is – if that mission ever actually happens. Then it’s up to China to worry about this. Or not.

Keith’s note: According to a press release from Reps. Chu and Bacon: “Without an anomaly providing guidance on the NASA budget,” the Members wrote, “OMB has pledged to apply its proposed FY 2026 cuts as soon as October 1st. That would result in an unprecedented, single-year cut to NASA, particularly NASA’s space science activities, resulting in irreversible impacts on America’s space leadership and capabilities.” — “We therefore respectfully ask the Committee to include language in the CR explicitly protecting NASA funding at no less than the FY 2024/2025 enacted levels. Congress has acted before to protect essential programs under CRs, and NASA – a vital part of our economy, our national security, and our global standing – deserves the same protection,” concluded the lawmakers.”

Keith’s note: according to “No Cuts to NASA, Say Supporters & Experts at Rally Outside Headquarters”: Yesterday, NASA supporters held a rally outside the agency’s headquarters to call for a congressional budget that fully funds the agency, and to call on NASAs leadership to stop making cuts to programs before the budget has even been passed. A crowd heard from speakers ranging from NASA employees to science advocates to Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10). (More below)

Keith’s note: A Congressional decision on a budget looms. Nothing has emerged other than confusion and posturing. Republicans are moving toward a vote on a short-term spending bill that would allow the Federal government to remain open when the new budget year begins on 1 October and would stretch into the middle of November. Not a solution. Just a stunt to buy some time. Democrats are simultaneously moving to resist whatever cuts the Administration wants to make and may vote to shut the government down if a negotiated compromise is not reached. Given the lack of a formal budget, the Administration will be more or less free to implement its Presidential Budget Request for FY 2026 (big cuts) plus utilize recision power to make other cuts. As such NASA would likely be facing an amplified worst case scenario in 2 weeks – something that will be hard to reverse once implemented. Both sides will blame the other for shutdowns and cuts yet both sides will be responsible. So … plan your future accordingly – if you can. Ad Astra.

Keith’s note: The other day I tweeted that “In the @NASAKennedy town hall yesterday KSC Center Director and former Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro said that it was that DOGE and the Administration who told her to consider firing probationary employees ‘because that’s an easy way to cut down the work force’.” NASA PAO has told me that Janet Petro has “worked to ensure the continuity of the Pathways intern program” and I corrected that tweet. However I am told by iron clad sources that Janet Petro directed NASA Goddard to get rid of all interns, close the cafeteria and the health unit. DOGE was not the source of this direction. Like a lot of recent actions at NASA that involve DOGE, personnel downsizing, budget cuts, and mission cancellations, the real story is somewhere in between and subject to revision. I stand by my sources and yet I will always make corrections when NASA emphatically disputes my reporting.

Keith’s note: As you ponder protests, policies, and how everyone should respond, re-read this part of the Executive Order that erases NASA’s union rights. It redefines what NASA is – despite whatever wording is in its charter or innumerable authorization and appropriations over the years. It 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. Indeed, this pivots NASA closer to Space Force. And it is not to be unexpected that NASA employees may soon see their ability to speak out reigned in as it already is within the Defense and Intelligence agencies. Again, read the words. They are rather precise.

Keith’s note: Speaking as a person bitten by a space bug at age 6 in 1961, nothing in this Planetary Society piece “A cosmic perspective worth fighting for“ is actually incorrect per se. But it is written from the warped perspective of one person inside the space bubble talking to others inside the same space bubble. Anyone who takes 30 seconds looking outside that bubble will realize that the real world – where all of the non-space converts and decision makers spend 100% of their time – has no time for lofty goals and inspirational things. It is all about meat and potatoes, paychecks, whether or not you can love someone, all covered with a deep sauce of ‘us Vs them’. Space people need to read the room and adapt their strategies to the world as it is – not as we would like it to be. Ad Astra etc.

Keith’s note: There will be another “Save NASA” protest at NASA Headquarters on Monday Sept. 15th. This is the third “Save NASA” protest in Washington, DC. Despite being totally relevant to workforce and science funding issues being discussed but he White House and Congress, the Planetary Society which has been pushing its own efforts, refuses to make any mention of this event or others involving actual NASA employees fighting for their jobs and their agency. For that matter, none of the space advocacy or trade organizations seem to want to mention this event – which should tell you a lot about their priorities – or lack thereof. Oddly they just added IFPTE to their lobbying team yet ignore their priority activities. Expected speakers include:

• Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, VA-10 – House Cmte on Space, Science, and Technology
• Monica Gorman, Area Vice President, Goddard Engineers, Scientists and Technicians Association (GESTA) – Union representing Goddard technical civil servants
• Colette Delwalla, Executive Director, Stand Up For Science
• Dr. Mollie Manier, National Institutes of Health, signer of the Bethesda Declaration
• Matthew Biggs, President, International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE) – National body for GESTA

More below

Keith’s note: You may recall that NASA has pushed a huge portion of its science and engineering workforce out the door. Now NASA Johnson Center director Vanessa Wyche wants to hire people as Interns (students). Internships are great – but they usually embody a chance to eventually land a permanent job at NASA. Given all the firings, that is not likely. But if you look at the work descriptions it sounds like the things that departed employees used to do albeit more cheaply. Oh yes, there is a typo in her LinkedIn post that says “pursing” which is defined as ‘puckering one’s lips to express disapproval or irritation instead’ of “pursuing”. Just sayin’.

Keith’s note: the following email was sent by the president of President AFEU/IFPTE local 30 at NASA Ames to employees: “Hello Everyone, On August 28, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14343, titled, “Further Exclusions from The Federal Labor-Management Relations Program” (EO 14343). This is notification that NASA intends to fully implement this Executive Order which excludes the agency from the Federal Service Labor Management Statute.” More below.

Keith’s note: the following email and attached memo was sent to NASA MSFC employees by the president of the Marshall Engineers and Scientists Association (MESA) [Update: The union asked me to edit out email addresses etc. so I did. They also asked that I take it offline but given that it is “in the wild” and has been sent to me multiple times – and it is inherently newsworthy- it remains online.] “All, Yesterday afternoon MESA received official notification from MSFC Center Director Pelfrey that MSFC will comply with Executive Order 14343 – Further Exclusions From the Federal Labor-Management Relations Program (link below). This may be the last email I am able to send to you in this fashion as one of your union representatives as MSFC is choosing to comply with the President’s determination that your jobs are primarily “intelligence, counterintelligence, investigatory, or national security” in nature. Therefore, MSFC will be canceling our labor contract, which was ratified by MESA membership and approved by NASA last year (link also below). Please see the attached for a more detailed message that I encourage you to forward to your personal emails for reading/reviewing when you’re in a non-duty status (off the clock)”. More below

Keith’s note: this is the letter sent by NASA GSFC Associate Center Director to the local Union President regarding cessation of union activities at GSFC. NASA Wallops employees got an identical letter. The wording matches a letter that was sent by the JSC Center Director. More below.

Keith’s note: this was issued Thursday evening: “Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren Blasts Trump Administration for Cruel Union Busting — Today, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that it will join several other agencies in terminating contracts with labor unions. “The president’s union busting stinks,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “These unions have been working hard to protect their members as Trump continues to target dedicated civil servants through illegal firings, coercions to resign, intimidation tactics, and more. Trump finds that inconvenient, so he’s getting rid of the unions that get in his way.” NASA Has yet to post anything about this decision. You would think that employees might want to know that their unions are going away. See No No More Unions Allowed At NASA. Happy Labor Day regarding the Executive Order that started this union busting.

Keith’s note: NASA JSC Center Director Vanessa Wyche sent a letter to the AFGE Union President president saying “On August 28, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14343, titled, “Further Exclusions from The Federal Labor-Management Relations Program” (EO 14343). This is notification that NASA intends to fully implement this Executive Order which excludes the agency from the Federal Service Labor Management Statute.” Full text below.

Keith’s note: This workforce chart was included in the KSC All Hands yesterday. In the KSC town hall yesterday KSC Center Director and former Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro said that it was that DOGE and the Administration who told her to consider firing probationary employees ‘because that’s an easy way to cut down the work force’.

Keith’s note: This chart about the JSC workforce was posted on BlueSky the other day.