NASA Lays Off 20% Of Staff As Trump Administration Implements Federal Workforce Cuts
Roughly 20% of NASA’s staff are set to exit the agency amid a restructuring initiative directed by the Trump administration’s efforts to trim the size of the federal government.
As part of a major overhaul, close to 20 percent of the personnel at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will depart, a spokesperson confirmed on Friday. This move aligns with federal employee reductions ordered by the Trump administration, reducing NASA’s workforce from over 18,000 to about 14,000.
Around 3,870 employees have agreed to leave under the government’s Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), though NASA mentioned the final number could shift in the coming weeks as applications are either approved or withdrawn.
In an official release, NASA described the move as part of its plan to become more “lean and effective.”
“Safety continues to be our top concern as we work to streamline operations and boost efficiency, while also ensuring our full capability to pursue a new era of exploration and innovation, including missions to the Moon and Mars,” NASA stated.
This marks the second instance of employee exits from NASA. In June 2025, the initial round began soon after President Trump took office, offering buyout packages to federal employees and leading to the voluntary departure of approximately 870 staffers—about 4.8% of NASA’s workforce at the time.
According to a Politico report released earlier this month, the Trump administration had plans to eliminate at least 2,145 senior-level NASA roles, many of which were held by individuals with specialized expertise and leadership experience. The report also noted that the agency extended early retirement options, buyouts, and deferred resignation offers to the affected employees.
