Personnel News
NASA Watch
NASAWatch
March 26, 2025
NASA MSFC RIF Update
NASA MSFC
NASAWatch
Keith’s note: This is a note from NASA MSFC Center Director Joseph Pelfrey sent out via Teams this morning. In this morning’s Office Hours meeting he indicated to attendees – multiple times – that information about the ARRP (NASA RIF Plan) was “embargoed by the White House”. Full memo below.
Pelfrey, Joseph J. (MSFC-DA01)
Updates on Agency EO responses
Hey folks … I know everyone has a lot of questions and concerns around the EO on workforce optimization. As I expected, all of the information I have seen and discussions I’ve been a part of are embargoed and I can’t share details beyond what’s in Janet’s email. I’m sorry about that … this is one of those areas where I need to stay in line with agency direction.
I believe (and have seen) the Agency is taking a thoughtful approach to how we optimize our workforce and reiterating our connection to mission activities in how we do workforce planning. The VERA authority was approved and the Agency is working to finalize implementation and identify areas of eligibility. I’ve seen a schedule that indicated ~middle of May for that work to be complete but that is subject to change.
To be clear as of this moment, we (Marshall leadership) have not been asked take any action in regards to RIF’s or workforce reductions.
I understand the level of anxiety all of this is placing on folks and I hope we can find ways to alleviate that, if nothing else by maintaining open lines of comm through this tool, our office hours, MCDs and all hands. Hang in there. We are in this together.
NASA Watch founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.