The United States’ space agency, NASA, is set to lose approximately 3,870 employees following federal budget cuts ordered by President Donald Trump.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), NASA stated that nearly 3,000 employees have agreed to voluntarily resign under the second phase of the “Deferred Resignation Program,” while 870 had already committed to resigning in the first phase.
Taking into account the upcoming retirements of other staff members, NASA’s permanent workforce is expected to shrink from 18,000 to approximately 14,000, a reduction of more than 20%.
NASA is currently operating under an acting administrator, as President Trump withdrew his previous nominee, tech billionaire Jared Isaacman, despite support from Elon Musk.
The “Deferred Resignation Program” allows employees to take administrative leave for a set period before officially separating from the agency on a pre-determined date.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration proposed a NASA budget that included major cuts to scientific and environmental programs, instead prioritizing a return to the Moon and a manned mission to Mars.
The White House stated that the U.S. is focused on beating China to the Moon and sending the first human to Mars.
China, meanwhile, has set a target of completing its first manned Moon mission by 2030.
