Keith’s note: To those in and around NASA who like to minimize layoffs at NASA and its contractor workforce: I did not come out of retirement to help my extended NASA family just to listen to you rationalize this massive hit on NASA as a “routine” or “voluntary” exercise. I especially don’t like hearing people on the 9th floor of NASA HQ – both long-time NASA employees and recent political appointees – who have been pushing managers to push their people out the door. NASA will rebound one way or another – not because of you – but in spite of you.

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: Yesterday the staff at NASA GSFC ETD (Engineering and Technology Directorate) got an email titled “Realignments that will Transition ETD to the Future”. There’s lots of NASA doublespeak, agency boilerplate language to make the White House happy, and other needless buzzwords. As is usually the case, this is a reorganization that seems to be more about giving the impression of a reorganization than actually changing anything. If you look at the before- and after- org charts (wherein they moved the little white colored words inside of the blue boxes) there are more blue boxes now – so that means more complex interactions (instead of fewer?). Wait minute: lots of people are being laid off at GSFC – so shouldn’t there be fewer organizations, managers, (blue boxes with words) etc.? Otherwise, it’s not like anything has really changed – other than mail codes. And of course, the old NASA phrase “it was about time for a new phone book” applies. Oh yes: there is a special bonus fun time activity called “ETD On the Road”. See below.

Keith’s note: according to a LaRC participant: “The overall sentiment was one of transparency, sharing information as it comes, and empathy. The Center Director has been proactive communicating when information is available. And has shared multiple resources for the LaRC employees. While I’m only one of a few thousand, I personally feel the Center Director cares deeply about the group and is doing her best to try and help LaRC as we try to survive this absolute shit show.” Details below.

Keith’s note: I was just on Bloomberg TV/radio/Web. [audio] I was asked if there was an issue with New Interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy having more than one job. I replied that this usually means that you delegate more to your staff. I noted that while Department of Transportation involves a lot of known, commonplace things but that NASA is really all about the whole rocket science thing and that Duffy will really need to lean heavily upon NASA staff. I also noted that the agency is still being run by NASA Chief of Staff Brian Hughes who is a former Trump campaign guy and a pal of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles – and that having a direct hotline into the White House when you need something is certainly not a bad thing to have. On the other hand Duffy is a staunch Trump loyalist so he’ll be implementing the Presidential Budget Request for NASA for FY 2026 including layoffs and cancellations as if it is a formal plan until directed otherwise by Congressional action on a budget that the President signs off on. Video below – my interview starts at 44:20

Keith’s note: the following memo updated 9 July 2025 is circulating around the KSC community and has official management answers to questions about DRP, RIFs etc. Full memo below.

Keith’s note: As of today the current number of NASA civil servants who are departing is around 2,900 across the agency – of that, people taking DRP 1 and 2 = approximately 2,000. This article from Politico has some info on the numbers from various NASA field centers. Of course how contractor employees are being affected is still a mystery and will ultimately be driven by sheer budget numbers.

Keith’s note: Things are starting to look darker at NASA. The Supreme Court just gave the final, ultimate green light to the Administration to gut agencies – NASA – however they wish to do so. Its time to adapt to this new paradigm. It is gloomy now. But that will eventually pass. NASA’s best days lie ahead. (More below).

Keith’s note: In what will soon become commonplace another valuable and valued employee is leaving NASA: Ronald Gamble, Jr, Ph.D., a Theoretical Astrophysicist in the Astrophysics Science Division at NASA GSFC. He posted this on LinkedIn: “An amazing thing happens when you pursue a dream and achieve it — you transform. It is a metamorphosis that forever changes you. These last four years at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and The University of Maryland have been the most transformative and invigorating time in my career and I will never forget the work and connections I’ve made.” (more below)

Keith’s note: Here’s a snapshot of where things stand in the DRP (Deferred Resignation Program) arena: Over 2,600 NASA employees have taken the deal so far and the window doesn’t even close until 25 July. In addition, there are another 350 or non-DRP departures scheduled. Add that up and you have over 17% of the NASA workforce planning imminent departure. Over 70 SES employees are leaving – that includes Human Resource directors, the CIO, and the CISO. Center Directors are also planning departures. NASA is going to be at the lowest level of employees since it was founded. At this rate an agency-wide RIF may not be needed but focused RIFs at centers may still be called for. People without options are staying behind risking RIF exposure with an increasingly bad job market. Back at NASA, with large gaping holes in expertise at forming, you have to know that reassignments and relocations are going to be required to “re-balance” things. Of course the contractor workforce gets doubly screwed since they have no real protections. University researchers will be left high and dry. And you can forget about nurturing the pipeline of next generation space scientists and engineers. This is not making space great again. Rather, it is NASA being taken off of the playing field while other nations ramp up and reach for the prize.