NASA is undergoing restructuring yet again – this time, with the elimination of its chief scientist role and the closure of multiple offices, including the Office of Science, Policy, and Strategy and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion branch.

The retrenchment – which is part of the Trump administration’s cost-cutting and efficiency drive – will affect 23 employees across the agency.

Drastic changes in space policy

For decades, NASA’s chief scientist has played a pivotal role in advising on space science, mission priorities, and research focus areas. The position, which had previously been abolished between 2005 and 2011, is now being cut once again.

Katherine Calvin, the current chief scientist, and AC Charania, chief technologist, are among those departing.

The Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, which was established only in 2021, is also being shuttered. Originally designed to provide evidence-based insights for NASA leadership, the office housed the agency’s chief technologist and chief economist. The closure marks a shift away from long-term strategic planning in favour of a leaner, more immediate operational focus.

Meanwhile, the DEI branch within NASA’s Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity is also being disbanded, aligning with a January executive order from the Trump administration that calls for the termination of all DEI contracts and the closure of related offices across federal agencies.

Also Read: NASA cuts 1,000 probationary staff

The Trump administration’s cost-cutting drive

The restructuring is part of the administration’s ongoing effort to reduce government bureaucracy. According to federal data, Elon Musk’s SpaceX – a key NASA contractor with deals worth an estimated US$15 billion – has been instrumental in shaping the government’s efficiency agenda, particularly within the space sector.

Internally, the restructuring has stoked anxiety among NASA’s 18,000 employees, many of whom have been bracing for further cuts. The Office of Personnel Management has been working with NASA to implement workforce reductions, with some employees given the option to take Voluntary Early Retirement or VERA or go through a formal Reduction in Force process.

A ripple effect across the space industry

NASA’s restructuring is not an isolated event. Earlier this month, roughly a third of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Space Commerce – a critical yet little-known entity supporting the commercial space sector – was also let go. However, following pushback from employees and industry groups, two officials from that office were reinstated.

Adding to the uncertainty, NASA’s associate administrator Jim Free, who was expected to take over as acting administrator, retired last month. Additionally, hundreds of NASA employees have already accepted buyout proposals from the Trump administration.

Also Read: DOGE layoffs: Federal job cuts run deep

An 'extinction-level' event for space science?

Further upheaval may be on the horizon. Reports suggest that the Trump administration plans to slash NASA’s science budget by as much as 50% in the next fiscal year. If realised, such deep cuts could drastically alter NASA’s ability to conduct space exploration and research.

According to The Planetary Society, an independent space advocacy group, this reduction would be:

Nothing short of an extinction-level event for space science and exploration in the United States.”

While NASA has long navigated political and financial headwinds, the latest cuts mark a turning point. They could either help to streamline the agency for a more commercially driven future or leave a void in space research.

At this point, NASA can only brace for more budgetary turbulence.

The scientific community is watching with bated breath, wondering if the stars will align for exploration – or if the sky is about to fall.