Workers laid off from NASA have raised concerns that the Trump administration’s decision to close two important offices at the agency will undermine its work and raise costs for space exploration. These offices—the Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy, and the Office of the Chief Scientist—provide independent analysis of crucial space investments and strategies. Their closure is part of wider cuts at NASA, and workers believe it will harm ongoing missions to the Moon and Mars by eliminating critical oversight.
The cuts also amplify worries about increasing influence for Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX. Musk already has a significant role in shaping space policy, and with the announcement that US President Trump has nominated billionaire Jared Isaacman—a close ally of Musk and SpaceX investor—as NASA’s next administrator, fears are growing that Musk’s control over NASA will expand further.
The timing is notable as SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, which recently delivered astronauts to the International Space Station, is preparing to fly two US astronauts home after they’ve been stuck there for over nine months. This situation has raised concerns that Musk’s growing influence could limit independent and critical oversight of NASA’s space initiatives. One senior NASA official warned that Musk’s ambitions for Mars could be threatened by any opposing views, noting that the offices being closed were the ones most capable of offering unbiased analysis, unlike other departments that might prioritize funding over objectivity.
NASA confirmed that around 20 employees will be affected by the closure of these offices, with their last day set for April 10. Although fired federal workers typically receive 60 days’ notice, NASA said this was shortened to 30 days to comply with an executive order signed by Trump, which is accelerating the agency’s budget cuts.
