Elon Musk has long been a controversial figure for NASA. But now, as the billionaire has gone into politics to “improve” life in the United States under Donald Trump’s wing, his actions cause unprecedented outrage among the agency’s employees.
According to former agency astrobiologist Keith Cowing, during a recent meeting at the Goddard Center, mention of the billionaire caused a flurry of ridicule and booing among those in attendance. The reason was his new decree requiring civil servants to report in detail on their weekly work — otherwise they face dismissal.
At first, this requirement was presented as voluntary. However, the most recent letter sent out by the Office of Personnel Management no longer contained such a statement.
Some notes from inside the @NASAGoddard all hands this morning:
1. while DOGE people are not currently onsite at GSFC they all have badges and have systems access to everything. They are under no obligation to inform the GSFC center director if they come in or explain what they… pic.twitter.com/65y4ZqYxX8
— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 3, 2025
NASA has not provided its employees with any official guidance on this requirement, leaving the decision to their discretion. Moreover, employees are warned that representatives of Musk’s created “Office of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), dubbed “young men with axes”, have unfettered access to any NASA facilities, can appear there at any time and do not have to warn anyone about their visit.
Conflict with astronauts
However, personnel changes aren’t the only thing fueling tensions between Musk and NASA. Last month, the billionaire made some controversial statements, particularly about the crew of the Boeing Starliner mission. He claimed that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams were allegedly left on the ISS for political reasons, although this information is not true.
Hey @ElonMusk, when you finally get the nerve to climb into a rocket ship, come talk to the three of us. https://t.co/9BOL1FQOZp
— Captain Mark Kelly (@CaptMarkKelly) February 21, 2025
Former astronaut and Senator Mark Kelly responded sharply to Musk on Twitter, saying: “Hey Elon Musk, when you finally get the nerve to climb into a rocket ship, come talk to the three of us.” His twin brother, astronaut Scott Kelly, also supported him, condemning Musk’s words, which he considered insulting to the ISS crew.
Prohibitions at NASA
In addition, NASA’s new policy to ban LGBTQ symbols in the work environment has also resonated. Many believe that such moves are in line with Musk’s ideological stance to combat the so-called “awakening” in federal agencies.
Musk and NASA were once partners, and SpaceX was considered a model of successful government-private business collaboration in space. Today, Musk’s mention of the space agency brings derisive remarks. Whether this conflict will become a point of no return is a matter of time.
We previously reported on why Musk was at war with NASA.
According to nasawatch.com
