NASA announced on Tuesday the dismissal of its chief scientist and others to comply with the orders of President Donald Trump, marking the latest series of administration actions that undermine climate change research.
While the movement affects only 23 people, a spokeswoman indicated that more cuts will arrive.
The first round remarkably eliminates the chief scientist’s office, directed by Katherine Calvin, a recognized climatologist who contributed to the UN key climate reports. Other American delegates were also forbidden to attend an important meeting of climate sciences in China last month.
“To optimize our workforce and in accordance with an executive order, NASA is beginning its gradual approach to a reduction in force, known as RIF,” said the Cherryl Warner agency spokeswoman.
“A small number of individuals received notification on March 10, they are part of the NASA rif. If they are eligible, those employees can choose to participate in the voluntary early retirement authority, or Vera, or complete the RIF process. “
The Office of Technology, Politics and Strategy and the Branch of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are also eliminated.
Until now, NASA has avoided the deep cuts that affect other agencies, according to reports, due to the last minute intervention by Jared Isaacman, the Trump nominated for NASA’s boss. Isaacman, a multimillionaire of electronic payments and client from Spacex, is considered so close to Elon Musk, the key advisor of Trump and architect of federal cost reduction efforts.
In February, NASA had been preparing to say goodbye around a thousand test employees. However, Isaacman requested that the cuts be suspended, according to Ars Technica. NASA has not explained the investment.
The new layoffs, reported for the first time by NASA Watch citing an internal note, could indicate a change in research and exploration.
Trump and Musk support a human mission to Mars. In his speech in the state of the Union last week, Trump declared that the United States “would plant the US flag on the planet Mars and even much further.”
NASA plays a crucial role in climatic research, operating a fleet of earth monitoring satellites, conducting studies in the air and on land, developing sophisticated climatic models and providing source data open to researchers and the public.
Trump, who has called for climate change a “scam” and expressed disdain for the UN and the science of the climate, already took the United States from the Paris agreement for the second time.
Meanwhile, its administration has fired hundreds of employees in the Oceanic and Atmospheric National Administration (NOAA), the other key climate agency of the Nation, with more expected cuts.
