Keith’s note: HQ-NASA-INC sent this out at 3:04 PM edt today about the demonstration at NASA HQ On monday: “NASA Headquarters Team, A demonstration is scheduled to take place outside NASA Headquarters from 7 to 11 a.m. EDT on Monday, June 30. The demonstration is permitted by the Metro DC Police.
Traffic in the area may be affected during this time. NASA Headquarters will remain open, and employees are expected to report onsite. Please plan accordingly and allow extra time for travel. As always, please exercise caution and stay aware of your surroundings.
As a reminder, only authorized personnel are permitted to speak on behalf of the agency.
If you have any media reach out to you directly, please have them contact the NASA Headquarters newsroom at 202-358-1600, or by emailing: hq-media@mail.nasa.gov.
Our team remains in close coordination with local authorities and will monitor any developments related to the event. Please stay tuned to the NASA SAFE app for latest building updates.
Thank you.”
Since Janet Petro made it clear she’s not responsible for “advocating” for NASA, I guess it’s up to protestors to “advocate” now?
It is prohibited for civil servants to advocate or lobby. It is fine to educate or inform. There are many things one can legitimately criticize about the current situation but not advocating is not one of them.
It’s prohibited for civil servants to advocate in their official capacity, but as private citizens they can advocate the same as anyone else.
At least, that’s the law. Whether you trust this admin not to go after anyone seen protesting is a different story.
Yes, you understand. I am seeing again and again people taking a narrow definition of the word “advocate” to only mean making (or not making) an official statement as a representative of the Agency. There are many other ways to advocate. Remember, Congress makes the budget; the President only makes a budget request. During the previous Trump administration, numerous major budget cuts were proposed by the President but NASA did not act until Congress passed the budget. So they are preemptively putting the cart before the horse here.
Newsflash: NASA is implementing FY 2026 budget priorities NOW even before there is a FY 2026 budget. By the time Congress agrees none these changes will be complete and all but impossible to repeal/repair.