Keith’s note: the following memo has been sent out to NASA staff to explain how things will resume operating at NASA. Full memo below:

Keith’s note: the following was sent out to the NASA workforce today: “A Message From Acting Administrator Sean Duffy: Welcome Back NASA Team, Thank you for your dedication and resilience throughout the shutdown. From those who sustained mission-critical operations, to those who remained on call, to those who were furloughed, I appreciate your role in helping us continue NASA’s essential mission, even during a shutdown.”

Keith’s note: the following was sent out by NASA CIO Jeff Seaton to the OCIO workforce today: “OCIO, I want to personally thank those of you who supported the Agency in a variety of capacities during the shutdown and welcome back those of you who were unable to work. As this shutdown ends I appreciate your resilience and professionalism during this time. I know this has been challenging — both personally and professionally — and I appreciate the commitment you always show to this Agency and to public service. You are what makes NASA great.”

Keith’s note: According to an agencywide note to NASA employees: “A Message From Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya Anticipation of Resuming Normal Operations: NASA Team, In anticipation of the passage of a bill that will end the government forward to welcoming all staff back from furlough as early as tomorrow. Please watch NASA’s external website for confirmation. If your situation returning to work tomorrow, please discuss this with your supervisor. Sincerely, Amit Kshatriya NASA Associate Administrator”.

Keith’s note: According to a post by Heron House: “Today our Heron House Family remembers and celebrates the remarkable life of Captain Rick Hauck, a man whose courage carried him through every chapter of life, from commanding missions in space to bravely facing Parkinson’s disease for more than fifteen years. Rick was a NASA astronaut, naval officer, physicist, husband, and father, but to those of us who had the honor of knowing him here at The Heron House, he was something even more profound: a man of quiet strength and dignity.” Ad Astra.

Keith’s note: Everyone is pleased that Jared Isaacman is back in the NASA Administration nominee’s chair at NASA. But the current Administration just can’t take this win without taking a swipe at the previous Administration by calling them out on DEI issues – including the agency’s statement about sending the “first woman” to the Moon. see “NASA Nominee Plans to Prioritize America First Agenda in Space, Not DEI“ in the Daily Signal quoted by the White House press secretary: “Under the Biden administration, the public emphasis of the 2026 mission to the moon, Artemis III, was taking the first woman and first person of color there. But astronaut selection is about merit, expertise, and experience, NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens said. Under the Trump administration, NASA has refined its public messaging to reinforce that Artemis is primarily about advancing space exploration.” Newsflash: during the Trump 1.0 Administration (not The Biden Administration) the “first woman” wording was added according to the NASA press release: “NASA Publishes Artemis Plan to Land First Woman, Next Man on Moon in 2024.” Just sayin’. Use Grok next time to check these things.

Keith’s note: According to “Administration hints furloughed workers may not be paid after shutdown” in the Washington Post: “The Trump administration is sending notifications to federal staff suggesting that only those who are working during the government shutdown will be paid when it ends, despite a 2019 law that also guarantees pay to furloughed employees.” You will recall my posting last week “Is NASA Pulling Back On Retroactive Pay?“ – “NASA folks are getting those new 30 day furlough notices. There is a significant difference in language from round 1 and round 2. The first round letter says you “WILL be receiving retroactive pay… ” In the second letter it says “IF you receive retroactive pay”. “Will” and “If” are not the same thing. In other words there is some doubt that everyone will get retroactive pay – right?”

“Andrew ‘Andy’ John Stofan, a distinguished NASA leader who guided key space missions and oversaw the initial development of the International Space Station program, died on October 26th in Fair Oaks, VA, at age 90.” Ad Astra (obituary)

Keith’s note: A report from a NASA Goddard employee: “I asked excepted people if they have seen any change in Building 36. A move has started and movers moved all of our belongings out from our offices, packed our stuff into boxes, and left it in conference rooms. We were told before that we’d be notified if we needed to move out of our office. Then we were told that there will be no move during the shutdown.” Other GSFC employees have mentioned moves that they were told were not supposed to happen during the shutdown.

Keith’s note: according to a press release issued by GESTA, (Goddard Engineers, Scientists and Technicians Association – IFPTE local 29) the employee union at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, on Saturday night: “Throughout there has been a complete breakdown in communication from NASA agency and Center leadership where decisions are rarely communicated, almost always only verbally, and not directly by the decision makers.” Full release below

Keith’s note: according to “NASA cuts dozens of Marshall Space Flight Center-based ISS jobs“ by WHNT Huntsville: “Congressman Robert Aderholt’s office confirmed NASA has cut dozens of International Space Station jobs based at Marshall Space Flight Center. Aderholt’s office said several dozen contract employees connected with ISS were let go Friday. They said this is part of the transition as NASA prepares to deorbit the ISS in 2030. Operations at MSFC with the ISS include communicating with astronauts to conduct experiments through the ISS Payload Operations Integration Center.”

Keith’s note: (to no one and everyone in particular. You decide.) In case you haven’t noticed under this Administration people have been fired for the use of one word. Its in the newspapers every day. Everyone is freaked out. I protect my sources and anonymize/edit things when I get them to assure that people (my sources) cannot be identified. Alas, some of you seem to be determined to out the sources or otherwise make it easier for my sources to be identified by paranoid NASA management. So, let me make this clear. I have zero tolerance for this. You will be blocked from commenting if you try. If you try to use other means to comment after I block you I will do my best to block your company/organization etc. from reading NASA Watch and explain why. Got that? (again) people in the civil servant and contractor community are freaked out enough as it is and I am trying to keep them informed while the government is shut down as well as when it is open. I will not be a party to ANYONE being fired or punished for speaking out. Ad Astra y’all.

Keith’s note: If you have been through a typical NASA design review then you know that words have meaning. As noted the other day (see NASA Email: Upcoming Second Formal Furlough Notice) NASA folks are getting those new 30 day furlough notices. There is a significant difference in language from round 1 and round 2. The first round letter says you “WILL be receiving retroactive pay …” In the second letter it says “IF you receive retroactive pay”. “Will” and “If” are not the same thing. In other words there is some doubt that everyone will get retroactive pay – right? You know this because NASA has an army of crack lawyers (who are all currently on furlough) who read these words very, very carefully – and always say what they mean and mean what they say, right? Sounds like someone may be slow rolling people out of retroactive pay. Exact text excerpts below.

Keith’s note: according to a well researched and brutally accurate story “NASA is sinking its flagship science center during the government shutdown” at Space.com: “The workforce at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland, say this has put groundbreaking missions at risk, and is degrading roadblocks designed to safeguard human lives. Now, under the cloak of a closed U.S. government, nearly half the GSFC campus — the hub of NASA science — is marked for abandonment.”

Keith’s note: This is simply pathetic Sean Duffy. You clearly canot read the room Virtually your entire NASA workforce is shut out with no pay and you’d rather spend time worrying about a fellow reality TV star than them. Get a grip Dude. You were at White House and siad that you are worried that DOT employees are not being paid, their families are suffering, etc. But you are also acting/interim NASA Administrator. But you say nothing about the same circumstance confronting NASA folks – civil service and contractors. If you can’t do both jobs then pick one that you CAN do – and give the other job to someone else who can do it. But wait: there’s more (see below)

Keith’s note: yea I know there is a #shutdown but this rates 9 out of 10 on the Scrooge scale Cynthia Simmons and Sean Duffy. (edited) Email sent this week to NASA Goddard employees: “Reminder: Holiday Events Not Permitted at GSFC — Good afternoon, As we gear up for several months of various holidays, please note this reminder that holiday parties, get-togethers, team building events, potlucks, etc. are no longer permitted onsite at GSFC.” 31 Oct update: I just got this from NASA HQ Public Affairs in response to my social media and NASAWatch.com postings: “This message was not approved or authorized by NASA agencywide or GSFC leadership.”

Keith’s note: Has anyone heard NASA’s part-time leader Sean Duffy recently reach out, motivate his NASA workforce, seek out shutdown, furlough, RIF, layoff, concerns – or otherwise show visible, enduring support for their hardship? Or does DOT get all of his attention? Just wondering.

Keith’s Update: see “Is NASA Pulling Back On Retroactive Pay?“ Keith’s note: the following email “Shutdown furlough: Upcoming second formal furlough notice and additional information” was sent to everyone at NASA today. it opens with “When a lapse in appropriations exceeds 30 days, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations require agencies to treat it as a new formal furlough and issue a second formal furlough notice.” Full message below.

Keith’s note: A year ago NASA and other government agencies were trying to broaden outreach to all Americans. NASA had a particular focus on reaching underserved communities. That has now evaporated. Instead, government agencies such as the Department of Labor have decided that 1950’s white males with chiseled features in heroic poses should be the symbol of what America is all about.