Congressional Letter To NASA Seeking RIF Information
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Keith’s note: according to a press release the following letter was sent to NASA On 11 March by House Science Committee Democrats: “We write to you in advance of the March 13, 2025, deadline for Agency Reorganization Plans. As leaders on the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, we are extremely concerned that the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will seek to slash and burn core functions of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to sacrifice the agency at the altar of their twisted idea of “efficiency.” It is imperative that you stand up for NASA’s critical work and ensure that the Agency Reorganization Plan does not compromise the agency’s ability to carry out Congressionally authorized activities and advance our nation’s public safety, economic prosperity, scientific knowledge, and national security.” Full letter below
In Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell T. Vought’s February 26, 2025, memorandum, he writes that agencies’ plans should drive “the highest-quality, most efficient delivery of their statutorily-required functions.”1 In the slapdash, broad, illegal firings of probationary employees across the federal government, agencies terminated many employees who had statutorily obligated responsibilities. Many of these firings across the government have been rescinded – some in response to judicial rulings2 and administrative actions,3 and some because the firings were embarrassing and flagrantly in violation of agency missions to contribute to national security and public safety.4,5 In short, the probationary firings were a complete fiasco. It is clear that DOGE equates “efficiency” to the number of bodies it forces out the door – through illegal firings or coercion. It falls to you to stand up for the important mission of your agency.
You know very well how important the mission of NASA is. NASA is charged with nothing less than ensuring America’s continued leadership in every facet of space exploration. To that end, Congress through successive NASA Authorization Acts has directed that NASA carry out missions in space and Earth science, space technology, aeronautics, human space flight and exploration, and education. The agency must not propose any action that would compromise the workforce and capabilities necessary to carry out congressional direction to NASA and the statutory direction for the policy and purpose of NASA in accordance with 51 U.S.C. §20102. You must follow statutory direction for the planning, direction, and conduct of aeronautics and space activities consistent with 51 U.S.C. §20112(a). It is absolutely critical that NASA functions are not eliminated or de facto eliminated due to reductions in force that make it impossible for the agency to continue its work.
NASA’s scientific mandate is an essential part of American competitiveness. We are locked in a race with China to ensure that the next wave of great technological breakthroughs happen here in the United States. Our national security and our economic prosperity depend on American scientists remaining at the forefront of global scientific innovation, so that the defining knowledge and technologies of the 21st Century are shaped by American values rather than the values of our rivals. If NASA loses its capacity to support the American scientific enterprise, it will be a generational setback for American interests. We cannot expect to lead the way in space if we fire the scientists, close the offices, and attack the science that supports our leadership. China is investing more, not less, in critical science. You must defend NASA’s ability to not just stay in the game, but to win it.
Congress appropriated to NASA the money to pay staff and fulfill its legal obligations. Firing employees and diminishing your agency past the point where it can function does not deliver money back to the taxpayer; it violates the laws enacted by representatives elected by the American people, and it violates the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.6 President Trump and Elon Musk are lying to the American people when they claim that terminations, cuts, and cancellations will put more money in Americans’ pockets. As Acting Administrator of NASA, you are obligated to spend the money appropriated to your agency as Congress intended. You must ensure your Agency Reorganization Plan does not break the law.
In order to conduct oversight of NASA’s ability to uphold its mission and legal obligations, we request that you provide the Committee your Agency Reorganization Plan immediately upon transmitting it to OMB and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). We also request that you brief Committee staff, within one week of the plan’s transmittal to OMB and OPM, on how NASA created the plan, any analysis performed to inform the plan, and the projected impact of the plan on NASA workforce and activities.
Pursuant to Rule X of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology “shall review and study on a continuing basis laws, programs, and Government activities relating to nonmilitary research and development.”7 The Committee possesses jurisdiction over the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as well as “astronautical research and development, including resources, personnel, equipment, and facilities” and “outer space, including exploration and control thereof.”8 If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Josh Schneider or Pamela Whitney with the Committee’s Minority staff at (202) 225-6375. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Zoe Lofgren
Ranking Member
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Valerie Foushee
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Space & Aeronautics
Emilia Sykes
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Investigations & Oversight
CC: Chairman Brian Babin
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Chairman Mike Haridopolos
Subcommittee on Space & Aeronautics
Chairman Rich McCormick
Subcommittee on Investigations & Oversight
1 Memorandum from Russell T. Vought and Charles Ezell to Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, “Guidance on Agency RIF and Reorganization Plans Requested by Implementing The President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative,” February 26, 2025, accessed here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-dataoversight/latest-memos/guidance-on-agency-rif-and-reorganization-plans-requested-by-implementing-the-president-sdepartment-of-government-efficiency-workforce-optimization-initiative.pdf.
2Andrea Hsu, “Judge says Trump’s mass firing of federal employees is illegal and should be stopped,” NPR, March 1, 2025, accessed here: https://www.npr.org/2025/02/27/nx-s1-5311445/federal-employees-firing-court-judge.
3 Andrea Hsu, “6 federal workers get their jobs back in 1st successful challenge to Trump’s firings,” NPR, February 26, 2025, accessed here: https://www.npr.org/2025/02/25/nx-s1-5307906/trump-probationary-employees-firing-mspb.
4 Brandon Drenon, “U.S. government tries to rehire nuclear staff it fired days ago,” BBC, February 18, 2025, accessed here: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g3nrx1dq5o.
5 Josh Funk, “Agriculture Department tries to rehire fired workers tied to bird flu response,” AP, February 19, 2025, accessed here: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g3nrx1dq5o.
6 2 USC Ch. 17B: Impoundment Control, accessed here: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title2/chapter17B&edition=prelim.
7 119 First Session House Rules.
8 Id.