NASA's cuts mark the latest in a series of actions ordered by US President Donald Trump. (Pool via AP)
In short:
NASA has announced the dismissal of its chief scientist in its first round of cuts ordered by US President Donald Trump.
The cuts affect 23 people, eliminating among others the Office of the Chief Scientist led by Katherine Calvin and chief technologist AC Charania.
What's next?
A spokesperson for NASA indicated on Tuesday that more cuts would follow.
NASA has announced the dismissal of its chief scientist in its first round of cuts ordered by US President Donald Trump.
The cuts affect 23 people, eliminating among others the Office of the Chief Scientist led by Katherine Calvin — a renowned climatologist who contributed to key UN climate reports.
Chief Technologist, AC Charania has also been fired.
In an email seen by Reuters, NASA's acting administrator Janet Petro told employees the Office of the Chief Scientist, the Office of Science, Policy, and Strategy, and the diversity, equity and inclusion branch within the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity would be closed.
NASA acting administrator Janet Petro told employees the the diversity, equity and inclusion branch would also be closed. (Reuters: Joe Skipper)
NASA still has an associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, who oversees science-focused missions.
A spokesperson for NASA indicated on Tuesday that more cuts would follow.
"To optimise our workforce, and in compliance with an executive order, NASA is beginning its phased approach to a reduction in force, known as a RIF," agency spokesperson Cheryl Warner said.
"A small number of individuals received notification [on] March 10 they are a part of NASA's RIF. If they're eligible, those employees may opt to participate in the voluntary early retirement authority, or VERA, or complete the RIF process."
Cuts a sign of Trump's priorities
Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who is credited with the cost-cutting measures, both support a human mission to Mars. (Reuters: Brandon Bell/Pool)
NASA's cuts mark the latest in a series of actions ordered by the president.
NASA has so far avoided the deep cuts affecting other agencies, including an expected round of lay-offs in February.
Ms Petro said in her email that NASA had been actively working with the US Office of Personnel Management to implement Mr Trump's January executive order directing government agencies to reduce and reorganise their workforces.
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Photo shows The World Health Organization logo on a plaque
Ms Petro has said NASA associate administrator Jim Free — who was poised to become acting NASA administrator pending confirmation of Mr Trump's nominee — retired from the agency last month, while hundreds of agency employees have accepted the Trump administration's buyout proposal.
But the new lay-offs, first reported by NASA Watch citing an internal memo, could signal a shift away from research and toward exploration.
Mr Trump and Elon Musk, who is credited with the cost-cutting measures, both support a human mission to Mars.
In his State of the Union address last week, Mr Trump declared the US would "plant the American flag on the planet Mars and even far beyond".
But NASA also plays a role in researching climate change, which Mr Trump has called a "scam".
He has pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement for a second time and his administration has dismissed hundreds of employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
AFP/Reuters