Nearly 4,000 NASA employees have opted to leave the space agency through the Trump administration’s deferred resignation program, NASA said on Saturday.

In a further indication of Congress' position on the SLS and Orion programs, lawmakers set aside more than $4 billion for the procurement of SLS rockets for the Artemis IV and Artemis V rockets in the reconciliation bill signed into law by President Donald Trump earlier this month.

NASA’s course reversal on firing about 1,000 probationary employees in February was hailed as a victory for those opposing cuts to the space agency’s civil workforce, which in January comprised more than 18,000 personnel. According to the latest update, however, NASA could be 20 percent smaller by January 2026.

NASA employees and allies protested sweeping science cuts they say are gutting the agency from within. As Congress pushes back on NASA leadership, workers warn the damage is already underway — and the future of U.

Nearly 4,000 NASA employees have opted to leave under Trump’s Deferred Resignation Program amid leadership shifts, budget cuts, and growing concerns about agency direction.

AS NASA moves towards looming budget cuts, the agency still lacks a permanent leader. Here's why the search for administrator is taking so long.

NASA has lost about 500 people via normal attrition as well since Trump took office in January. Counting those losses, NASA's workforce will shrink to about 14,000 by Jan. 9, 2026, when the employees who said yes during the DRP's second phase will come off the rolls, Warner said in the statement.

About 3,000 NASA employees applied to leave as part of the deferred resignation program, which closed its second round on July 25.

Some heading into retirement, others to private sector Almost 3,900 of NASA's workforce is set to leave the agency thanks to voluntary incentives, with senior staffers among those heading out the door.

"NASA is being dismantled now, treating the President's budget request as marching orders rather than proposed legislation," Finch said. "Damage is occurring rapidly, daily. Although Congress is signaling bipartisan support to fund NASA, by the time they have an FY 26 budget passed, the damage will be widespread, fait accompli."