Where did the money go?
NASA’s use of taxpayer funds for union time has drawn criticism from Republicans, as the space agency spent over $400,000 in union-related activities during fiscal year 2024. According to data obtained by Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), the $417,798 cost stems from 30 employees who collectively spent more than 4,000 hours on union work. This spending has sparked outrage from critics, who view it as a misuse of hard-earned taxpayer dollars.
Union time refers to hours federal workers spend on activities like labor meetings, training sessions, disciplinary actions, and collective bargaining preparation. Senator Ernst, chair of the Senate DOGE caucus, has expressed strong disapproval of such expenses. “If federal employees want to take a break from their jobs to engage in union activities,” she stated, “they need to reimburse the American people for every penny spent.”
While NASA’s union time expenditures have decreased in recent years, from $641,037 in 2019 to $477,204 in 2023, the current spending still raises concern. Ernst argues that even the slightest amount of taxpayer dollars should not be used for union activities. She has called for an end to taxpayer-funded union time altogether, reinforcing the idea that such funds should be spent solely on government work that directly benefits the public.
The federal government has faced similar scrutiny over union time spending. In 2019, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) found that the total cost across all federal agencies exceeded $135 million. After OPM ceased tracking union time data, Senator Ernst took the initiative to request this information directly from agencies, including NASA.
Despite its significant budget of $24.88 billion for fiscal year 2024, NASA has struggled to maintain its position as the leading space agency, with private companies like SpaceX increasingly taking the lead in space exploration. The space agency’s ambitious Space Launch System (SLS), designed for deep-space missions, has been plagued by cost overruns and delays. Meanwhile, SpaceX’s reusable Starship system continues to make headway, challenging NASA’s once-dominant role.
NASA employees are represented by two primary unions: the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers and the American Federation of Government Employees. Both unions were contacted for comment, though no additional information was provided.
In the eyes of many Republicans, the continued use of taxpayer funds for union time is emblematic of government waste. Senator Ernst and other critics argue that federal unions should not be able to use public resources for activities that do not directly contribute to the nation’s priorities, especially when NASA’s resources could be better allocated to advancing space exploration rather than supporting non-government work.