Keith’s note: In a nutshell, acting/interim/(maybe)actual NASA Administrator Sean Duffy says that SpaceX is behind “schedule” on its Artemis stuff. OK this may well be true. Yet Duffy can’t say when Artemis II, III, etc. will launch i.e. according to a “schedule” with dates etc. or if there’s an actual firm budget to stay on “schedule” or if his new ideas to try other approaches have a “schedule” or if a landing will have a NLT 19 Jan 2029 in its “schedule’. “Notional” won’t get us to the Moon, beat China etc. Just sayin’.

Keith’s note: according to “The Power Struggle Over Who Will Run NASA Is Turning Ugly“ in the Wall Street Journal: “Over the summer, Duffy told government officials he was interested in bringing NASA under the Transportation Department’s purview, people briefed on the conversations said. “Sean said that NASA might benefit from being part of the Cabinet, maybe even within the Department of Transportation, but he’s never said he wants to keep the job himself,” a NASA spokeswoman said.” Sounds like Sean Duffy has been thinking about expanding his turf at DOT by swallowing NASA.

Keith’s note: Some complain NASA Watch has turned political. Oops. This is an existential moment for NASA (and everything else). Everyday I’m beset with putrid politics colliding with a hopeful future – one that usually keeps me (and you) going. Many of you have been thrown out of a job you were drawn to as a child because of this mess. I do this Internet thing by the seat of my pants – as are you with your lives right now. Don’t let these b*stards take your future away from you. I’m a child of StarTrek so I use clips to convey things. Here’s today’s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYZ4IoyztIw

Keith’s note: Over the years space supporters have complained when politics entered @NASA policy. Over the past few days Transportation Secretary Duffy who moonlights as Interim/Acting NASA Administrator has gone totally political. Remember – if you are a Democrat or attended these rallies this is what he thinks of you (see Tweet and quotes). But he only says these things as @SecDuffy – NOT as @SecDuffyNASA. Oh yes: the President has openly called for cutting budgets for “Democrat Agencies” and their programs. So, is NASA a “Democrat agency” Sean Duffy? This is certainly a “question the American people [especially those of NASA] deserve to have answered.” Just sayin’.

• “[It’s] actually a hate America protest” Source: News Nation
• “The ‘No Kings’ protest, Maria, really frustrating. I mean, this is part of antifa, paid protesters. It begs the question, who’s funding it? Source: The Hill

Keith’s note: The unions that represent some NASA employees continue to push back. Oddly JPL was trying to thwart union organization when the sky started to fall and other NASA centers merely tolerated unions. Now, as the White House severs their role with NASA – and all the professional space industry organizations mostly sit on their hands – they let the layoffs and budget cuts happen. But the Unions have risen to the challenge and now lead the way in championing the collective well being of space community employees. Bravo. For all of you non-union types, a large Bravo Zulu (“well done”) for the unions is in order. See “Legal challenges against Trump’s union EOs continue to proliferate” at Government Executive: “The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers has filed its second lawsuit seeking to block President Trump’s effort to strip collective bargaining rights from two-thirds of the federal workforce, this time on behalf of NASA workers.”

(Originally posted 30 Sep 2025) To The NASA Family: Selfish, shortsighted power brokers are toying with America’s technological leadership in a game of brinksmanship. People suffer as a result. It is people who enable science agencies and research organizations to discover and explore the unknown. From subatomic structure and the chemistry of life – to the structure of the universe and the tools to explore it – NASA is singular in its ability to explore existence at every known scale of time and cosmic organization. More below

Keith’s note: some reactions to JPL’s job layoffs. If the PBR is enacted in whole or in part – and OMB continues to cut and RIF – then this may be just a preview.

• JPL Hit With Another 550 Layoffs as NASA’s Budget Crisis Deepens, Gizmodo, “If you really want NASA to be that leader—not just to win, but also to show why we won—you would be doing the exact opposite of what you’re doing at NASA right now,” Cowing said.”

• JPL, the Southern California NASA center, is laying off hundreds of employees, LAIst, “The JPL that we knew is gone,” said one employee, who has worked at JPL for over 10 years and lamented the repeated layoffs. The engineer also described an ongoing brain drain and a feeling of despondency among the staff. LAist agreed not to name the person, who feared reprisal for speaking publicly.”

• NASA’s JPL cuts 550 jobs in latest round of layoffs at La Cañada Flintridge facility, LA Times, “Layoffs and attrition have reduced JPL’s overall staffing by about one-third in the last two years, sources at the organization said, from roughly 6,500 to around 4,500 after this week’s reduction. JPL endured three rounds of layoffs last year alone, prompted by massive federal budget cuts for its beleaguered Mars Sample Return mission.”

• JPL Workforce Decimated, EOS, “Federal whistleblowers, however, have come forward with evidence that NASA leadership has been operating as if the President’s Budget Request (PBR)—not the appropriations bill—is in effect, directing mission wind-down operations and staff reductions under the assumption of a 20% overall budget cut. Some of that lost spending would affect JPL’s ability to plan, build, and operate Earth science missions and space exploration spacecraft.”

Keith’s note: according to Former NASA nominee Jared Isaacman in talks to become agency’s chief: “Jared Isaacman, the private astronaut and Elon Musk ally who was removed from consideration to lead NASA earlier this year, met with acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy this week as a candidate for leading the space agency, a NASA spokesperson said.“

Keith’s note: the JPL Center Director sent this message to all JPL employees earlier today. Full memo below.

Keith’s note: In a “A message from JPL Director Dave Gallagher” a JPL layoff of 500 people has been announced that is “not related to the current government shutdown”. Full memo below: