During a recent internal meeting with employees, which was later deleted, NASA’s leadership, currently headed by four people, appeared noticeably agitated. Acting Administrator Janet Petro responded to challenging questions from staff about the future of the agency. On the agenda are the Trump administration’s plans to cut NASA’s budget by 24% and its workforce by a third as early as fiscal year 2026.
New leadership, new rules
The key figure responsible for the changes is NASA’s new chief of staff, Brian Hughes, a former political consultant. His statement of intent to “streamline the organization, refocus the business, and optimize operations” is interpreted as a signal for profound institutional reforms. This corporate strategy is causing concern among scientific and engineering staff.
Janet Petro, respected by experts (the first female director of the Kennedy Space Center), found herself in a difficult position. She tries to instill optimism by referring to NASA’s strong brand and interesting missions, but her authority is limited. Without close ties to Trump’s team, she cannot make key budget decisions. In addition, there may not be a permanent administrator for at least six months to a year after the failure of Jared Isaacman’s candidacy.
Shadow of the future
Uncertainty regarding permanent leadership and the scale of planned cuts are creating a tense atmosphere within the agency. An anonymous NASA official stated categorically: “NASA is f—ed.” This phrase has become a symbol of deep concern among employees who see the planned reforms as a serious threat to the implementation of ambitious space projects and the very culture of the research agency.
The question of how NASA will maintain its key programs amid severe budget cuts remains open.
Earlier, we reported on how NASA’s lunar rocket booster test did not go according to plan.
According to arstechnica.com
