NASA abruptly dismissed its chief scientist and gutted climate research divisions Tuesday, complying with Trump’s cost-cutting agenda. Insiders warn of deeper layoffs as the agency pivots to Mars missions backed by SpaceX-linked billionaire Jared Isaacman.
The latest in a string of executive orders weakening climate change research, NASA announced on Tuesday the firing of its chief scientist and others to comply with Trump, The Raw Story shares.
Even though only 23 people would be affected by the transfer, a spokesperson did say that more layoffs are on the way
Notably, the Office of the Chief Scientist, headed by the esteemed climatologist Katherine Calvin—who was instrumental in producing pivotal UN climate reports—is eliminated in the first round. Last month, a major climate research conference in China was similarly off-limits to her and other American delegates.
According to Cheryl Warner, an agency spokeswoman, NASA is starting its reduction in force (RIF) method in phases to optimize the workforce and comply with an Executive Order.
“A small number of individuals received notification March 10 they are a part of NASA’s RIF. If they’re eligible, those employees may opt to participate in the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority, or VERA, or complete the RIF process.”
Both the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy and the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Branch have been disbanded.
Reportedly thanks to last-minute intervention by Jared Isaacman, Trump’s pick for NASA chief, the agency has thus far escaped the severe budget cuts impacting other departments. Elon Musk is considered as close to Isaacman, a billionaire e-payments client and SpaceX investor. Musk is a significant adviser to Trump and the architect of federal initiatives to reduce costs.
About a thousand probationary staff were to be let go by NASA in February. Nevertheless, as reported by Ars Technica, Isaacman allegedly requested the postponement of the cuts. The reversal remains unexplained by NASA.
A possible indication of a move away from research and toward exploration may be the latest layoffs, as initially reported by NASA Watch citing an internal document.
A manned trip to Mars has the backing of both Trump and Musk. Trump said last week in his State of the Union speech that the United States will fly the American flag to Mars and beyond.
Airborne and ground-based investigations, the operation of a fleet of Earth-monitoring satellites, the development of complex climate models, and the provision of open-source data to researchers and the public are all essential components of NASA’s climate research mission.
The United States has already withdrawn out of the Paris Agreement for a second time, under Trump’s watch. He has described climate change as a “scam” and shown contempt for the United Nations and climate scientists.
At the same time, his government has already laid off hundreds of workers at NOAA, the country’s second most important climate agency, and more layoffs are on the horizon.
Luis Gochoco is a seasoned managing editor and writer with over a decade of experience covering politics, technology, gaming, and entertainment news. With a keen eye for breaking stories and in-depth analysis, he has established himself as a trusted voice in digital journalism. Luis is one of the key forces behind the success of GameNGuide, contributing to 12 million views through engaging and high-traffic content. He also played a pivotal role in generating 8 million views on International Business Times, shaping the platform’s technology and gaming coverage.
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