The U.S. space agency NASA will lose about 3,900 employees under Donald Trump's sweeping effort to trim the federal workforce -- at the same time as the President prioritizes plans for crewed missions to the Moon and Mars.
In an emailed statement, NASA said around 3,000 employees took part in the second round of its deferred resignation program, which closed late Friday (July 26, 2025).
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Combined with the 870 who joined the first round and regular staff departures, the agency's civil servant workforce is set to drop from more than 18,000 before Mr. Trump took office in January to roughly 14,000 -- a more than 20% decrease.
Those leaving the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on the deferred resignation program will be placed on administrative leave until an agreed departure date. An agency spokesperson said the figures could shift slightly in the coming weeks.
