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The “about 10 percent” figure was a same-day estimate in a Feb. 18, 2025, Ars Technica report—not a current NASA headcount or a final audited tally. The report combined roughly 750 deferred resignations with about 1,000 or slightly more probationary employees affected, against a workforce of nearly 18,000 civil servants. NASA’s workforce later fell further: the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported a reduction of 4,000 civil servants, or nearly 22 percent, during 2025.
What the 10% headline meant
Eric Berger’s Feb. 18, 2025, Ars Technica report described an expected decline at NASA around four weeks into the second Trump administration. Its estimate combined two groups: employees who accepted a deferred-resignation offer and probationary employees who were affected by terminations. The report put NASA’s civil-service workforce at nearly 18,000 and described the combined reduction as about 10 percent.
- About 750 employees had accepted deferred resignation, according to sources cited by the report.
- About 1,000 or slightly more probationary employees were affected, the report said.
Those were contemporaneous reported figures and an estimate, not a final audited count. Deferred resignations and probationary terminations were also distinct from a reduction in force (RIF). The report said center directors had been asked to prepare options for a “significant” RIF, but its scope was undefined and the additional cuts might not happen.
How NASA’s reported workforce changed afterward
Later figures describe a longer period and should not be treated as a correction to the February headline. GAO reported that NASA reduced its civil-servant workforce by 4,000 people, or nearly 22 percent, in 2025. Its workforce table gives the following dated totals:
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| Measurement date | NASA workforce | Source and method |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 17,999 | OPM’s EHRI database, as reported in GAO’s workforce table |
| March 2025 | 18,342 | NASA-reported pay status on the specified date, as reported by GAO |
| June 2025 | 17,996 | NASA-reported pay status on the specified date, as reported by GAO |
| October 2025 | 17,438 | NASA-reported pay status on the specified date, as reported by GAO |
| January 2026 | 14,267 | NASA-reported pay status on the specified date, as reported by GAO |
The figures come from GAO’s federal workforce update. The December 2024 figure uses OPM’s EHRI database; the later figures use NASA-reported pay status on specified dates. That change in source and method matters when comparing points in the series. The latest exact count in this table is for January 2026; it does not establish NASA’s headcount on Oct. 3, 2026.
What the staffing cuts meant for projects and capabilities
Reduced staffing had reported effects, but the evidence does not mean that every NASA mission was delayed or disrupted. GAO’s July 23, 2026, assessment of major projects said 25 of 36 major projects reported effects from reduced staffing. Its summary also noted that most projects in development reported no schedule delays or cost overruns in the latest year.
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NASA’s Office of Inspector General identified a broader capability concern in its 2025 report on management and performance challenges. Its snapshot said the workforce had fallen approximately 20 percent since 2023, from over 18,000 to roughly 14,000 employees as of July 2025. The OIG said the cuts made it harder to preserve institutional knowledge and maintain continuity in mission-critical operations, on top of existing challenges involving technical skills, recruitment, retention, and retirements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What NASA said about staffing in 2026
Later staffing statements describe plans and policy at specific points in time, not a new headcount. GAO said NASA’s Administrator announced plans in February 2026 to resume hiring and address skill gaps. In a May 22, 2026, workforce message, Administrator Jared Isaacman said no RIFs were being contemplated at that time.
In a separate May 22, 2026, NASA realignment announcement, 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.” That was his statement about the agency’s approach at the time; it does not supply an exact workforce total for October 2026.
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