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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →NASA has not enacted the deep funding cut proposed for fiscal year 2026: Congress largely maintained the agency’s funding at FY2025 levels. But NASA had already lost more than 4,000 civil servants—about 22% of its civil-service workforce—by January 2026, and a proposed FY2027 reduction leaves future hiring and mission staffing uncertain. That workforce figure reflects departures through reductions and separations, not a count of 4,000 involuntary layoffs.
Are NASA’s budget cuts approved?
The most important distinction is between a presidential budget request and funding enacted by Congress. The FY2026 request proposed a 24% reduction from NASA’s FY2025 appropriation, but the FY2026 appropriation largely maintained funding at FY2025 levels, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The proposed FY2026 cut was therefore not the amount NASA ultimately received.
The next proposal is also unsettled. GAO reports that the President’s FY2027 request proposed a 23% reduction from the FY2026 appropriation. As of GAO’s May 2026 reporting, Congress had not passed an FY2027 appropriation. The proposal does not establish what NASA will ultimately receive or how the agency will respond. GAO’s 2026 review discusses both funding and workforce effects.
| Fiscal year | What the figure describes | Status |
|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | The administration proposed $18.8 billion, $6 billion below FY2025 appropriations, a proposed 24% reduction. | Request; Congress largely maintained NASA funding at FY2025 levels. |
| FY2027 | A proposed 23% reduction compared with the FY2026 appropriation. | Request; GAO reported in May 2026 that Congress had not passed the appropriation. |
These percentages compare different fiscal years and different stages of the budget process. They should not be read as enacted cuts to NASA’s budget.
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- Authentic NASA Spacecraft Replica – Detailed 1/300 scale model of the legendary Space Shuttle Atlantis featuring realistic NASA markings and spacecraft detailing.
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- Historic Space Exploration Collectible – Honors the iconic reusable orbital spacecraft that helped shape modern human spaceflight history.
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How many NASA employees were laid off?
GAO reports that NASA had lost more than 4,000 civil servants—approximately 22% of its civil-service workforce—by January 2026. That is a measure of workforce reduction and departures, not a tally of involuntary layoffs. NASA used incentivized separations and retirements as part of government-wide workforce reduction initiatives.
The figure covers NASA civil servants. Contractors and employees of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are separate workforce categories; the civil-service total should not be treated as a count of everyone working on NASA missions or at NASA-related facilities.
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What did the staffing losses mean for NASA projects?
The effect differed across programs. GAO found that 25 of 36 major projects reported effects from reduced staffing. Examples included workforce challenges on the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion, and the loss of key project team members on DAVINCI. This does not mean all 36 projects were affected in the same way, or that every affected project faced cancellation.
Funding enacted for FY2026 helped at least one project address staffing needs: GAO reports that DAVINCI restored staffing levels needed to maintain its formulation schedule. That example shows why project outcomes depend on both workforce decisions and the funding available to carry them out; it does not establish the outlook for other missions.
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- These Space Mission toys feature authentic representations of spacecraft from both the past and present, offering a realistic experience for space enthusiasts.
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- Ideal for ages 3 and up, this playset promotes learning about space missions and the technology behind them.
Is NASA hiring again?
NASA has described plans to rebuild capabilities. A February 2026 workforce directive and related assessments were intended to identify staffing needs and inform hiring and training, according to GAO. On May 22, 2026, NASA announced an agencywide realignment that included rebuilding core competencies, recruiting through NASA Force, strengthening the intern pipeline, and bringing work in-house from contractors where appropriate. NASA’s realignment announcement describes those plans.
In that announcement, Administrator Jared Isaacman said: “There will be no reduction in force, no program cancellations, no closures, but we will achieve cost savings through more efficient execution and taking an active role in delivering the outcomes the world has been waiting for from NASA.” This was NASA’s stated position on the announced realignment, not a guarantee about every future staffing decision or the eventual effect of the FY2027 budget.
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What to watch next
- Congressional action on FY2027 funding: the enacted appropriation, rather than the request alone, will determine the agency’s funding level.
- NASA workforce assessments and hiring: assessments may shape which skills and roles the agency prioritizes for recruitment and training.
- Project-level updates: staffing and schedule consequences vary by mission, so a change at one project should not be assumed to apply across NASA.
NASA’s budget page lists its FY2026 spending plan for appropriations, posted July 9, 2026, alongside budget documents: NASA budgets, plans and reports.
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