• Education
    • Higher Education
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • Online Learning
    • School Reforms
    • Research & Innovation
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Home & Living
    • Relationships & Family
  • Technology & Startups
    • Software & Apps
    • Startup Success Stories
    • Startups & Innovations
    • Tech Regulations
    • Venture Capital
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cybersecurity
    • Emerging Technologies
    • Gadgets & Devices
    • Industry Analysis
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
Today Headline
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
Today Headline
No Result
View All Result
Home Science & Environment Space Exploration

Tracking DOGE’s impact on space and the federal workforce

March 9, 2025
in Space Exploration
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
0
Tracking DOGE’s impact on space and the federal workforce
4
SHARES
8
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


The White House and the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency have spent the first weeks of Donald Trump’s new administration looking to reduce the number of federal workers and shrink spending. 

The cuts have followed roughly the same formula from agency to agency. What does that mean for space? It’s challenging to track every corner of the federal workforce that works on space, making it difficult to determine exactly how many jobs have been lost. 

Below are the latest developments for each department, including what we don’t know. SpaceNews reporters are on Signal and welcome tips.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Total number of employees: ~18,000

  • Were employees offered the deferred resignation program or did they receive the so-called “fork in the road” email? Yes. NASA officials have said about 5% of employees have accepted the offer. That would translate to roughly 900 positions. 
  • Were there probationary layoffs? Layoffs of probationary employees have been deferred for now. Roughly 1,000 employees were thought to be part of the cut.
  • Notes: NASA leaders are developing plans for a larger reduction in force as part of Trump’s vision to shrink the federal workforce. The Planetary Society, an advocacy group, has estimated that the 10% cut would be the largest single reduction in force at the agency since the end of the Apollo program more than a half-century ago.

Department of Defense

Total number of civilian employees: +700,000
Total number of civilian employees in the Space Force: ~5,600

  • Were employees offered the deferred resignation program or did they receive the so-called “fork in the road” email? Yes. Specifically, the Department of the Air Force, which oversees the Air Force and Space Force, sent the email to employees Feb. 28. Pentagon officials have not disclosed how many employees accepted the offer thus far. 
  • Were there probationary layoffs? Not yet. But some officials have said those could begin before the end of March.
  • Notes: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told Pentagon officials to plan for a 7% reduction of budget and a senior Pentagon official has said to anticipate a reduction of the Department’s civilian workforce by 5-8% to produce efficiencies. It is unclear how many of those employees will work for the Space Force or on space programs. 
  • Specifics: The head of Space Systems Command, the Space Force’s primary acquisition arm, said March 4 that the office “had a considerable number” of employees apply for the deferred resignation program. He expected those employees to leave soon, according to Defense News. 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Total number of employees: ~12,000

  • Were employees offered the deferred resignation program or did they receive the so-called “fork in the road” email? Yes. The New York Times reported approximately 500 people took that offer and left the agency Feb. 28. It is unclear how many of them worked on space programs.
  • Were there probationary layoffs? Yes. CBS News reported that about 880 people were fired Feb. 27. It is unclear how many of them worked on space programs. 
  • Specifics: Layoffs at the Office of Space Commerce within NOAA Feb. 27 included staff working on the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) and in the Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Division, which oversees commercial imaging satellite licensing. TraCSS is set to take over space traffic coordination from the Defense Department. The cuts, which affected as many as a quarter of the office’s 60-person staff, are expected to disrupt programs, a former NOAA official said. However, by March 4, two senior leaders, the TraCSS program manager and a division director, had been reinstated after industry groups raised concerns with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Total number of employees: ~14,500

  • Were employees offered the deferred resignation program or did they receive the so-called “fork in the road” email? Yes. 
  • Were there probationary layoffs? None have been reported thus far. 
  • Notes: There was confusion at NGA — a U.S. intelligence agency that analyzes geospatial data for the U.S. military, allies and homeland security organizations — because many employees believed their role in national security made them exempt from the hiring freeze announced Jan. 20 and from subsequent layoffs. 

National Reconnaissance Office

Total number of employees: ~3,000

  • Were employees offered the deferred resignation program or did they receive the so-called “fork in the road” email? Yes. 
  • Were there probationary layoffs? None have been reported thus far. 
  • Notes: The NRO builds and acquires satellites for the intelligence community. Like the NGA, many employees believed their role in national security made them exempt from the hiring freeze announced Jan. 20 and from subsequent layoffs. 

Related

Mike Gruss covers military space issues, including the U.S. Air Force and Missile Defense Agency, for SpaceNews.
He is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
More by Mike Gruss

Tags: Department of DefenseDepartment of Government EfficiencyNASANGANOAA
Previous Post

A man with a Palestinian flag climbed London’s Big Ben tower and refused to come down

Next Post

‘Entire Ukraine front line would collapse if I…’: Elon Musk’s bold statement on Russia-Ukraine war todayheadline

Related Posts

stacks of white boxes on a cart sit inside the doorway of a building

NASA’s largest union says closing science institute is ‘an attack’

May 28, 2025
5
The cave and the galaxy

The cave and the galaxy

May 28, 2025
5
Next Post
'Entire Ukraine front line would collapse if I…': Elon Musk’s bold statement on Russia-Ukraine war

'Entire Ukraine front line would collapse if I…': Elon Musk’s bold statement on Russia-Ukraine war todayheadline

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

April 2, 2025
Pioneering 3D printing project shares successes

Product reduces TPH levels to non-hazardous status

November 27, 2024

Hospital Mergers Fail to Deliver Better Care or Lower Costs, Study Finds todayheadline

December 31, 2024

Police ID man who died after Corso Italia fight

December 23, 2024
Harris tells supporters 'never give up' and urges peaceful transfer of power

Harris tells supporters ‘never give up’ and urges peaceful transfer of power

0
Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend's Mother

Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend’s Mother

0

Trump ‘looks forward’ to White House meeting with Biden

0
Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

0

Indigenous leaders urge Carney to raise LNG at G7 summit

May 28, 2025
Gaza aid group opens 2nd distribution center, day after first site swarmed by crowds

Gaza aid group opens 2nd distribution center, day after first site swarmed by crowds

May 28, 2025

Knee hampers Casper Ruud in French Open loss; Alcaraz moves on todayheadline

May 28, 2025
A car driving in a city.

Why Pony AI Stock Is Falling Hard Today todayheadline

May 28, 2025

Recent News

Indigenous leaders urge Carney to raise LNG at G7 summit

May 28, 2025
0
Gaza aid group opens 2nd distribution center, day after first site swarmed by crowds

Gaza aid group opens 2nd distribution center, day after first site swarmed by crowds

May 28, 2025
4

Knee hampers Casper Ruud in French Open loss; Alcaraz moves on todayheadline

May 28, 2025
5
A car driving in a city.

Why Pony AI Stock Is Falling Hard Today todayheadline

May 28, 2025
3

TodayHeadline is a dynamic news website dedicated to delivering up-to-date and comprehensive news coverage from around the globe.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Basketball
  • Business & Finance
  • Climate Change
  • Crime & Justice
  • Cybersecurity
  • Economic Policies
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Environmental Policies
  • Europe
  • Football
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Health
  • Medical Research
  • Mental Health
  • Middle East
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Politics
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Science & Environment
  • Software & Apps
  • Space Exploration
  • Sports
  • Stock Market
  • Technology & Startups
  • Tennis
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Us & Canada
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • World News

Recent News

Gaza aid group opens 2nd distribution center, day after first site swarmed by crowds

Gaza aid group opens 2nd distribution center, day after first site swarmed by crowds

May 28, 2025

Knee hampers Casper Ruud in French Open loss; Alcaraz moves on todayheadline

May 28, 2025
  • Education
  • Lifestyle
  • Technology & Startups
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2024 Todayheadline.co

Welcome Back!

OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Business & Finance
  • Corporate News
  • Economic Policies
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Market Trends
  • Crime & Justice
  • Court Cases
  • Criminal Investigations
  • Cybercrime
  • Legal Reforms
  • Policing
  • Education
  • Higher Education
  • Online Learning
  • Entertainment
  • Awards & Festivals
  • Celebrity News
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Health
  • Fitness & Nutrition
  • Medical Breakthroughs
  • Mental Health
  • Pandemic Updates
  • Lifestyle
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Living
  • Politics
  • Elections
  • Government Policies
  • International Relations
  • Legislative News
  • Political Parties
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cybersecurity
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Industry Analysis
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Climate Change
  • Environmental Policies
  • Medical Research
  • Science & Environment
  • Space Exploration
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • Sports
  • Tennis
  • Technology & Startups
  • Software & Apps
  • Startup Success Stories
  • Startups & Innovations
  • Tech Regulations
  • Venture Capital
  • Uncategorized
  • World News
  • Us & Canada
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Travel
  • Research & Innovation
  • Scholarships & Grants
  • School Reforms
  • Stock Market
  • TV & Streaming
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
  • About us
  • Contact

© 2024 Todayheadline.co