NASA, the American Space Agency, will lose almost 3,900 employees as part of the policy led by Donald Trump to misfortune federal employees, while the president has made the missions inhabit the Moon and Mars a priority.
In a statement sent by email, the prestigious agency said that around 3,000 people participated in the second wave of their deferred dismissal program, which ended this Friday, July 25.
If we add to the 870 people who participated in the first cycle of this program and regular outlets of the personnel, the American Space Agency sees that its workforce goes from 18,000 employees before the arrival of Donald Trump at the end of January to 14,000, a decrease of 20%.
The Moon and Mars to the detriment of scientific and climatic programs
Those who decided to leave NASA as part of the program will be placed on license until its departure date. An agency spokesman said the figures could change significantly in the coming weeks.
NASA emphasizes that “security remains an absolute priority”, while seeking to “find the balance between the need to become a more rationalized and effective organization and to remain in full capacity to continue an era of exploration and innovation, especially towards the Moon and Mars.”
Earlier this year, the Trump administration offered a budget for NASA focused on a return to the moon and a mission to Mars, to the detriment of scientific and climatic programs.
The White House said he wanted to “beat China in the race towards the moon and send the first human to Mars.” China plans to carry out its first inhabited increase by 2030, while the American program, called Artemis, has repeated delays.
Donald Trump appointed Sean Duffy, his transport minister, head of the Federal Agency, after proposing businessman Jared Isaamman, a close friend of billionaire Elon Musk, at the beginning of July.
Source: BFM TV
