Trump is done wasting taxpayers dollars.
In a move that signals the beginning of significant government restructuring, NASA announced on Monday that it will begin reducing its workforce, including the elimination of the Office of the Chief Scientist. This decision, outlined in a memo to staff, is part of a broader initiative to streamline operations across the federal government.
Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro made the announcement in a memo, which was shared with USA TODAY. The memo describes the layoffs as a “phased reduction in force,” indicating that these cuts are a prelude to a governmentwide restructuring effort that will culminate in a Thursday deadline for agencies to submit their layoff plans to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). While the exact number of jobs being eliminated was not specified, the cuts will affect multiple key areas of the agency.
Among the offices set to be shut down are NASA’s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, as well as the Office of the Chief Scientist. Additionally, the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) branch within the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity will be closed, and the workforce in this office will be reduced.
This restructuring effort is part of a broader initiative announced earlier this year by former President Trump in collaboration with business leader Elon Musk. Known as the Department of Government Efficiency, this program seeks to bring greater accountability and efficiency to the federal bureaucracy. The goal is to reduce wasteful spending and focus taxpayer dollars on more effective programs, ensuring that government agencies like NASA are operating in the most streamlined and efficient way possible.
While these changes may be difficult for those directly impacted, the overarching goal is to make government more efficient and ensure that resources are being used effectively. NASA’s leadership expressed appreciation for the hard work of those affected by the cuts, acknowledging their contributions to the agency’s successes in recent years. The effort is part of a larger push to modernize government functions and restore accountability to federal agencies.