Keith’s note: Question to NASAWatch readers: A lot of you give Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro a free pass to do absolutely whatever the White House tells her to do – even if it is to preside over the firing of 1/3 of the work force she leads and cutting out a massive chunk of her agency’s budget. And every week she just tells you to go along with what she says and to “Embrace The Challenge”. And the excuse is that “she is told to do this”. I totally get the whole notion that y’all want to stay employed – at the greatest exploration entity the world has ever assembled. But if everyone at NASA just does what they are told to do – even if it aids in enabling this disaster – then why should others outside of NASA try and keep your budget and your pre-eminent team mates in place? Thoughts? Put them in the comments section.

Keith’s note: How do NASA and other agencies hire at the same time they’re RIFing their workforce to reduce head count? Are these replacement hires? Where do empty slots come from when reducing a workforce? Can you get RIFed and walk out of NASA and get in line to apply for your old job at NASA Oh then there’s loyalty oath vibe. See OPM Memo: “Merit Hiring Plan“ Embrace The Challenge y’all. Salient points below:

Keith’s note: according to this CNBC post: “A federal judge further blocked the Trump administration from sharply cutting jobs and reorganizing the structure of many major federal agencies as part of its so-called DOGE effort under billionaire Elon Musk. The order issued late Thursday granted a preliminary injunction that pauses further reductions in force and “reorganization of the executive branch for the duration of the lawsuit.” According to this Democracy Forward press release : “The coalition of educators, school districts, and unions that challenged Secretary of Education McMahon’s massive reduction-in-force has won a preliminary injunction that will halt the administration’s unlawful effort to dismantle the Department of Education.”

Keith’s note: There was a Town Hall at Goddard on Monday. Multiple employees have reported that this event was tense. There were security guards posted in the back of the overflow room. According to people who attended the Town Hall, NASA is trying to avoid involuntary RIFs as much as possible but all of this is TBD until the new Administrator shows up to review/approve plans. NASA GISS folks will telework until September until office space in New York City can be found. It would seem that the GISS lease decision was made by NASA and GSA DOGE teams. A DOGE representative told the GSFC Center Director that GISS work had value and that DOGE just had an issue with the lease cost. This is in conflict with a report that it would not be cheaper and would be disruptive (see “NASA Is Terminating The GISS Lease In Five Weeks“). The GSFC Center Director spoke about telework, saying that it is decided by direct line managers as per agency policy. However, it’s clear to folks at GSFC that managers are simply following orders from the directorate level – and each GSFC directorate head has established separate and inconsistent policies.

Keith’s update: I am hearing that people at NASA centers are ask management if the workforce would be informed of the NASA RIF plan. NASA got a one week extension on submitting its plan. No one seems to be certain if the RIF plan will be shared. NASA HQ wants to hold it close due to a high leak potential. Also mentioned is an interest in having Jared Isaacman provide input (after confirmation) before it is released/implemented. Keith’s (earlier) 14 April note: NASA is required to submit their Phase 2 RIF plan aka “ARRP” to OMB and OPM today. So … Janet Petro and senior NASA leadership will know what the basic plan is. How many others in agency management (e.g. Center Directors) will know is not clear. Now it’s up to the White House to drop the axe. According to Guidance on Agency RIF and Reorganization Plans Requested by Implementing The President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative: “Phase 2 ARRPs [Agency RIF and Reorganization Plans] Agencies should then submit a Phase 2 ARRP to OMB and OPM for review and approval no later than April 14, 2025. Phase 2 plans shall outline a positive vision for more productive, efficient agency operations going forward. Phase 2 plans should be planned for implementation by September 30, 2025. The Phase 2 plan should include the following additional information:” [more below]

Keith’s note: the following was posted on LinkedIn by Mamta Patel Nagaraja, who was NASA Associate Chief Scientist for Exploration and Applied Research – until that office was closed last month and everyone was laid off. Her words remind me of the time when I decided to leave NASA. But the image – as they say – speaks a thousand words. It stopped me in my tracks. I asked if I could post this and she said “Yes, of course”. FWIW Speaking from experience you can leave NASA – but it never leaves you.

• “I said goodbye to the OG yesterday. I’d love to tell you that I held my head high, but I have never painted a rosy picture online that wasn’t actually rosy. Yesterday was sad. Angering. Relieving, dare I say- after all, I left a toxic atmosphere. Emotionally perplexing indeed. But overall, sad. I always imagined a happy exit from NASA, either retiring or choosing to leave for bigger opportunities. Alas, as I promised you, I’ve dreamed again and you’ve helped. In countless ways. I’m thinking about creating my own company, I’ve got a few startups who want to chat, a prospect where I could help prevent another pandemic, and maybe even a chance to inspire young kids to explore the unknown. And I’ve only been a free agent for one day! Things are looking up – I’ll update you soon on which path I travel next. And if I haven’t responded to your message yet, I will. I just needed to get through my last 30 days at NASA. To new beginnings!“

Keith’s note: Amidst the ever present fear of being fired (without any real details), having budgets cut and missions cancelled, Janet Petro wants your ideas on how to improve NASA. And you only have one week to submit them. And just like the “Five Things What I Did Last Week” thing, memo there are 5 questions. FYI when I go to https://forms.office.com/g/opuPtHnrRg I get a 404 – that may be because I am outside the firewall. But based on input from inside NASA the link does work. Embrace the challenge y’all. Janet’s memo – and the questionnaire form located online inside the firewall below:

Keith’s note: There is no mention in these news stories about NASA offering a new round of buyouts or whether they are considering them. You might ask your management – to ask their management etc. etc.

• New Buyout Offers on the Table for Federal Employees, Fedsmith: “Some agencies have made new buyout offers to their employees to voluntarily reduce the size of their workforces before widespread RIFs begin.”
• Federal Workers Get Second Musk Buyout Offer , Yahoo: “Federal workers at a number of agencies — including the Defense, Transportation, Agriculture and Energy departments — are getting a second chance to accept a buyout offer, the latest effort to downsize the US government spearheaded by Elon Musk.”
• Federal agencies launch second — and likely final — offer to leave, Politico: “This week, at least seven agencies, including the departments of Defense, Agriculture, Energy, Housing and Urban Development and Transportation, as well as the Small Business Administration and the General Services Administration, are making a new round of offers for workers to leave their jobs, using the same Deferred Resignation Program that prompted more than 77,000 federal employees to voluntarily leave earlier this year.”

Keith’s note: In opening Space Science Week at the National Academy, Rep. Mike Haridopolos (FL-08) just said that President Trump “has spared NASA from the large budget and personnel cuts” due to the importance of Artemis and “The only people who left are those who took the buyout.” People at NASA have already been fired and looming budget cuts will gut NASA science. Someone needs to brief the Congressman about the facts on the ground. Just sayin’.

Keith’s note: OPM has posted an immense amount of new RIF Information. The have issued a 119 page Workforce Reshaping Operations Handbook. A one page overview outlines the information and how a RIF will be constructed “When an agency must abolish positions due to reorganization, shortage of funds, or lack of work, the RIF regulations establish procedures for determining how employees are released and whether an employee has retention rights to a different position. The regulatory requirements governing RIF, which Federal agencies must adhere to, are contained in Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 351. RIF Procedures There are six phases to implementing a RIF. The actual timing of the process may vary based on agency-specific requirements, collective bargaining agreements, and workforce considerations. Specific operational procedures are found in the Workforce Reshaping Operations Handbook | OPM.”