DOGE’s Job Cut Hit NASA: Chief Scientist, Tech Leader, and DEIA Office Axed

Following the inauguration of Donald Trump, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) kicked off its plans to lay off top NASA scientists. This governmental body headed by Elon Musk has revealed the offices that will be feeling the heat of this layoff exercise, sparking controversies across the industry.

DOGE’s Job Cut Impacts Top NASA Scientists

Last month, the US government held back from mass firings for probationary federal employees. However, DOGE’s move to hit NASA with mass firing is surprisingly still pulling off. On 10 March 2025, an email containing the details of this mass firing was shared on social media.

On Bluesky, netizens shared the email where Janet Petro officially announced the mass firing. From her post, we learn that NASA offices like the “Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, the Office of the Chief Scientist, and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility branch in the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity,” will be affected by the layoffs.

All the offices mentioned above are now officially closed, and the layoffs will affect most of their workforce. According to reports, it is the first of its kind NASA job cut since 1961.

The announcement comes amid several ambitious projects at NASA, including the Artemis mission. Clearly, the new move hasn’t been welcomed, as criticism is flying in from various corners.

Space Experts Kick Against The Firing Of Top NASA Scientists

Speaking on this layoff, efforts by DOGE Janet Petro says that while the news is difficult to take, it is important for NASA staff to “support one another as we move forward.” She also praised the staff affected by the DOGE decision as “valued members” of NASA, as they all played significant roles in completing previous projects.

Considering the space ambitions that the US is nurturing, some throw shade at this new move from the government. Johns Hopkins University Assistant Professor Dr. Meredith MacGregor says that firing such talent “is NOT the way to help” the US achieve its space goals.

Dr Jessie Christiansen, the chief scientist of the NASA Exoplanet Science Institution, says that this move is “just giving away space preeminence hand over fist.” While there are various criticisms regarding this move by DOGE, NASA has fingers pointing its way regarding how they handle their project funding.