NASA lays off Chief Scientist Katherine Calvin and 22 others under Trump's directive

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Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-03-12 08:43:16 |

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NASA has dismissed Chief Scientist Katherine Calvin along with 22 members of her office following directives from President Donald Trump. This move is part of a broader effort to restructure the agency, which appears to be shifting focus away from scientific research toward space exploration. According to a NASA spokesperson, this is just the first phase of a "reduction in force" (RIF), with more job cuts expected in the future. Employees affected by the layoffs have the option of early retirement or proceeding through the standard RIF process.

The restructuring has led to the closure of the Office of the Chief Scientist, previously led by Calvin, who is a respected climatologist known for her contributions to UN climate reports. Reports indicate that she and other US representatives were also barred from attending a major climate science conference in China last month. Additionally, NASA has shut down the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, as well as the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Branch.

Unlike other federal agencies that have faced budget reductions, NASA had initially avoided deep cuts, reportedly due to intervention by Jared Isaacman, Trump's nominee for NASA Administrator. Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur with ties to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, is believed to have influenced the temporary delay of planned layoffs. However, NASA had previously been preparing to cut nearly 1,000 probationary employees. The recent job cuts may indicate a shift in NASA's priorities, aligning with Trump’s and Musk’s long-term vision of prioritizing human space exploration over research. Both have expressed strong support for a Mars mission, with Trump recently stating that the US would "plant the American flag on the planet Mars and even far beyond."

NASA has played a crucial role in climate research, operating Earth-monitoring satellites, conducting field studies, and providing open-source data. However, the Trump administration has taken steps that suggest a reduced focus on climate science, including previous layoffs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These moves reflect a broader pattern of deprioritizing environmental research in favor of space exploration initiatives.

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