In a recent email, which has been seen and reported by Reuters, NASA’s Acting Administrator Janet Petro informed employees on March 10, 2025, about the closure of three key offices. This includes the Office of the Chief Scientist, led by Katherine Calvin, and the Office of the Chief Technologist, led by A.C. Charania. The closures are expected to impact a total of 23 employees across the Office of the Chief Scientist, the Office of Science, Policy, and Strategy, alongside the diversity, equity, and inclusion branch of the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity. These measures are part of an efficiency drive initiated by the new administration under President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January 2025. Trump’s executive orders, which include a withdrawal from the World Health Organization and cuts to US development aid via USAID, are being implemented by NASA in collaboration with government officials aiming to reduce and reorganize the agency’s workforce. Specifically, NASA is aligning with orders that have led to the cancellation of numerous scientific studies on defense threats posed by climate change, with a particular focus on space research and exploration. This strategic restructuring signifies a shift in the agency’s priorities, potentially reflecting broader political and social changes under the current administration’s policy directives.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/nasa-terminates-science-and-technology-roles-amid-trump-cuts/a-71884768?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf