Keith’s note: the following was posted on 28 August at the GESTA IFPTE LOCAL 29 blog: GESTA recently received notification of Agency Management’s intent to modify NASA’s policies and procedures governing Reductions in Force (RIFs), or layoffs in the Federal Government, with its release of a revised RIF NASA Interim Directive (NID). To be clear, this is not yet notification that a RIF is underway. [More below].

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: the occupant’s last whiteboard message is a common sight across NASA. A wealth of expertise and dedication is being mindlessly forced out, undermining NASA’s leadership in space exploration. Ad Astra Per Aspera y’all. Larger image below.

Keith’s note: WARN notices were sent to some Human Space Flight Technical Integration Contract (HSFTIC) employees. Integrated Mission Operations Contract (IMOC) folks received generic 60 day WARN notices last week and there will be individual layoff notices sent out at the beginning of September to the specific folks who are being laid off. This is all being done according to the President’s Budget Request (PBR) for FY 2026 – even though NASA says that they are going to follow direction from Congress. This all comes to a head in September when Congressional budget stances, the PBR, threats of rescissions, and all of the other political nonsense that infects Washington, collides in advance of the end of FY 2025 on 30 September.

Keith’s note: This is the internal RIF planning chart circulating within NASA the Human Health and Performance Contract community. It specifically relates to contractor employees – but it mirrors plans being developed in other parts of the agency. Note that this is being explicitly done via “NASA Directive: Offices, Programs, and Projects to align with the FY26 Presidential Budget Request of $18.8B” – and not due to any budget agreed to by Congress. Of course, NASA Headquarters would rather that you not see this just yet – and spoil the post-Labor Day surprise. Text below.

Keith’s note: I don’t want to freak people out, but there is a question that has been troubling me. A lot of media focus has been on departing NASA civil servants (which sucks) but there may be massive contractor employee layoffs as well (which equally sucks). If things stay on the path that they seem to be on something needs to break soon.

• NASA is acting as if the President’s Budget Recommendation (PBR) for FY 2026 is formal direction with regard to missions, contractor personnel issues. Congress has not finalized a FY 2026 budget yet. But the White House and NASA seemingly do not care. Congress has already complained about this.
• The WARN Act (29 USC Ch. 23 Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) requires employers to provide 60 days advance written notice of mass layoffs. FY 2025 ends on 30 September and FY 2026 Begins on 1 October. So if these PBR directives are going to be implemented legally, would not WARN notices start to be sent out to employees on 1 August i.e. Friday?
• Let me know if you see or hear anything. Hang in there.
• UPDATE: I have learned that NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility contractors (Peraton) have received WARN letters. 
• UDPATE: Significant contractor cuts (15-20% overall, some groups being eliminated) coming at the NASA Shared Services Center/ WARN letters are going out.
• UPDATE: NASA Goddard WARN notices are arriving with contractor employees – now: “We anticipate that the separations will become effective on October 1, 2025 (or within 14 days thereafter) and are expected to be permanent. This notice is being provided to you following the WARN Act, 29 U.S.C. 2101-2109, as implemented by federal regulations at 20 C.F.R. Part 639. The information set out below is based on the best information currently available to the Company, but may change due to subsequent events.” “This notice, is to inform you that you may be laid off due to these reductions. Based on current information, the Company believes that all job titles and positions at the employment site listed above may be impacted”

Keith’s note: this was just issued by NASA HQ: “NASA’s Deferred Resignation Program, Voluntary Early Retirement Authority, and Voluntary Separation Incentive Program are closing at 11:59 p.m. EDT Friday. Safety remains a top priority for our agency as we balance the need to become a more streamlined and more efficient organization and work to ensure we remain fully capable of pursuing a Golden Era of exploration and innovation, including to the Moon and Mars. Numbers are as follows:

• Deferred Resignation Program #1: about 4.8% of the workforce (about 870 individuals)
• Deferred Resignation Program #2 (including VERA and VSIP, in addition to DRP): about 16.4% of the workforce, approximately 3,000 employees
• NASA’s expected remaining civil servant workforce following both DRP programs, as well as normal attrition (about 500) over the same time period: about 14,000
• As more official information becomes available, we anticipate answering more of your questions.

Keith’s note: this went out to everyone at NASA. You’d think that a former TV guy could read the room a little better i.e. “deeply personal and often difficult decisions”. — “Dear Team, Thank you to all who took the time to thoughtfully consider NASA’s voluntary resignation programs. I know these are deeply personal and often difficult decisions. To those who have chosen to depart, I want to express my sincere appreciation for your service. Your work has helped shape NASA’s extraordinary legacy of discovery and innovation. Whether you are continuing the journey here or taking your next step beyond, your contributions will always be part of the foundation we build on. Thank you for all you’ve done – for NASA, for your teams, and for the mission we’ve shared. Sean Duffy Acting NASA Administrator”.

Keith’s note: this upbeat memo went out to everyone at NASA today. It starts with “During this period of transition” which is NASAese for “now that you have had to quit your job”. …

Keith’s note: the following memo went out to NASA employees today from Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO):