Latest news with #FiscalYear
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
NASA reportedly set to lose 2,000 senior staff members as Trump looks to slash agency's budget
NASA will soon be facing a major brain drain as more than 2,000 senior employees prepare to leave the agency amid a push to reduce its workforce. Some 875 NASA workers work at the highest level of government and in managerial or specialized positions, POLITICO reported Wednesday, citing related documents the website had obtained. Furthermore, more than 1,800 serve in mission areas, such as science and human spaceflight, and the employees make up the majority of 2,694 civil staff who have agreed to leave NASA, POLITICO said. Reacting to the report, Dr. Jessie Christiansen, a research scientist at Caltech/IPAC and chief scientist at the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute, told The Independent that losing senior staff members would leave 'deep knowledge and expertise holes across all NASA centers and impact all NASA's strategic plans.' 'We have a direct and immediate precedent for how difficult it is to rebuild institutional knowledge once it has been lost with our plans to return to the moon. We are still trying to get back to the capabilities we had sixty years ago,' Christiansen noted. NASA will not be releasing the number of individuals who take the Deferred Resignation Program before the offering window's closure on July 25. The agency told The Independent that it remains committed to its mission, working "within a more prioritized budget." The brain drain comes as the White House's budget slashes the agency's Fiscal Year 2026 funding to about half of its previous $7.33 billion allocation. The cuts come as President Donald Trump has led a push to reduce the federal budget and shrink the government's workforce. 'There is no set target number for the [resignation program]. This program is a voluntary opportunity available to NASA employees,' spokesperson Bethany Stevens said. 'We are working closely with the administration to ensure that America continues to lead the way in space exploration, advancing progress on key goals, including the moon and Mars,' she added. The report's findings come after leaders at NASA facilities told employees they already expected impacts and the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. A reduction in force at NASA, led by the Department of Government Efficiency, was initially delayed in February before the first layoffs in March, closing the Office of the Chief Scientists and Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy. 'Indiscriminately firing the next generation of NASA scientists, engineers and wider team members is exactly the wrong step to secure America's leadership in space — just as competition with China is reaching fever pitch,' George Whitesides, NASA's former Chief of Staff, said in a post on X reacting to layoffs in February. 'These employee terminations, like the layoffs of nuclear workers at the National Nuclear Security Administration, bird flu workers at USDA, wildfire GIS workers at the Forest Service, and weather forecasters at NOAA, will only make America weaker.' If NASA's budget passes through Congress, the agency is expected to see blows to crucial initiatives that have been the product of decades of its research. Those would include 41 space missions, the agency's climate monitoring satellites and top climate lab, the ongoing Mars Sample Return mission and upcoming missions to Venus. In response to the budget, which would eliminate 47 percent of its science budget, all living former NASA science chiefs penned a letter condemning the cuts, calling on Congress to preserve U.S. leadership in space exploration and to reject the cuts. 'Continuing this support of space science is critical both in terms of leveraging existing activities while also planning and implementing future investments in the next generation of U.S. scientists and engineers who will lead the world in space science,' they wrote. 'To do otherwise would be to cede U.S. leadership in space and science to China and other nations, to severely damage a peerless and immensely capable engineering and scientific workforce, and to needlessly put to waste billions of dollars of taxpayer investments.' Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NASA responds to questions about budget cut for Fairmont IV&V facility
Jul. 9—dbeard @ MORGANTOWN — NASA on Monday responded to questions from The Dominion Post about proposed budget cuts at the Katherine Johnson Independent Verification & Validation Facility in Fairmont — briefly explaining the "why " but not how it would be affected. As part of an overall proposed NASA budget cut under President Trump's Fiscal Year 2026 Discretionary Budget Request, Johnson IV &V would see its funding fall from its current $43.3 million (from FY 2024) to $13.8 million in FY 2026 — just one third of the current budget. In its 2026 Budget Technical Supplement, the agency says, "In FY 2026, NASA plans to significantly reduce and restructure both the NASA Engineering and Safety Center and Independent Verification and Validation program as part of the effort to consolidate the overall Agency Technical Authority program. In FY 2026, NASA will allocate $9.9 million for IV &V to ensure the program can provide software assurance support to the future Moon to Mars programs." We asked NASA last week what the impact would be from this restructuring and reduction, in terms of employees affected and functions at the IV &V center—named for "Hidden Figure " Katherine Johnson. In response, NASA referred us to a message from Acting Administrator Janet Petro that leads the budget request and serves as the agency's statement on the budget request. Petro opens saying, "The President's Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for NASA reflects the Trump-Vance Administration's commitment to strengthening America's leadership in space exploration while exercising fiscal responsibility. With this budget, we aim to shape a Golden Age of innovation and exploration." NASA pointed out the next paragraph, which notes that a budget lies behind every mission NASA undertakes. "Refining that budget is a strategic process that requires intentional decisions, and this year is no exception, " Petro said. "With a leaner budget across all of government, we are all taking a closer look at how we work, where we invest, and how we adjust our methods to accomplish our mission." NASA's answer then moved on to the IV &V budget, noting that $9.9 million figure, noting that the Moon to Mars initiatives are one of this administration's key priorities. "This funding will help sustain IV &V's missions at lower cost while supporting current and future exploration objectives." NASA said, "Our focus remains on supporting the agency's high-priority missions and maintaining the unique capabilities that IV &V contributes to NASA's overall success." NASA's response concluded, "Beyond what is listed in the FY2026 President's Budget Request and Technical Supplement, the agency has no further comment at this time." We noted previous that Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and Rep. Riley Moore are both working to preserve IV &V funding. IV &V receives funding from several NASA accounts. Funding from the Safety, Security and Mission Services account will be cut from $39.2 million to the $9.9 million mentioned above — for software assurance support for Moon and Mars programs, as mentioned above. Funding from the Exploration account will go from $3.3 million to $2 million. Funding from the Space Operations account will go from $800, 000 to $700, 000. One account source will see an increase: Science account funding will go from $0 in FY 2024 to $1.2 million for FY 2026.
Dominion Post
04-07-2025
- Business
- Dominion Post
NASA IV&V in Fairmont faces drastic funding cut
dbeard@ MORGANTOWN – NASA's Katherine Johnson Independent Verification & Validation Facility in Fairmont could see a drastic budget cut under President Trump's Fiscal Year 2026 Discretionary Budget Request. But members of West Virginia's Congressional delegation are working to prevent it As part of an overall proposed NASA budget cut, Johnson IV&V would see its funding fall from its current $43.3 million (from FY 2024) to $13.8 million in FY 2026 – just one third of the current budget. NASA is working on answers to questions from The Dominion Post about the ramifications of the cut and will provide those next week. In its 2026 Budget Technical Supplement, the agency says, 'In FY 2026, NASA plans to significantly reduce and restructure both the NASA Engineering and Safety Center and Independent Verification and Validation program as part of the effort to consolidate the overall Agency Technical Authority program. In FY 2026, NASA will allocate $9.9 million for IV&V to ensure the program can provide software assurance support to the future Moon to Mars programs.' The Dominion Post reached out to Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice, and Rep. Riley Moore for comments on the proposal. Capito spokeswoman Kelley Moore (no relation) said Capito 'is aware of the proposed cuts to NASA that would impact the mission and the facility at Katherine Johnson IV&V.' She has been in contact with leadership at the facility, Goddard Space Flight Center, which oversees the work at IV&V, and NASA Headquarters. 'It has also been conveyed to NASA and to the Senate Appropriations Committee that Sen. Capito will oppose any cuts to this facility that would impact workforce or its mission,' Moore said. Moore noted that since NASA does not have an administrator or a nominee at this time, there has not been a budget hearing where this topic could be raised. 'Regardless, Sen. Capito is working hard to protect this facility that she so proudly helped name around this time in 2019.' Justice did not respond to several requests for comment. Moore said, 'I am closely tracking the proposed cuts to NASA's Fairmont facility. I have been in constant communication with the appropriations subcommittee chairman who oversees its funding, and will use my position on the Appropriations Committee to fight for the important work being done there.' Here's a breakdown of the numbers that factor into IV&V's budget – with several layers of authority above IV&V. IV&V overall falls under NASA's Safety, Security and Mission Services. That budget was cut from $3.131 billion in FY 2024 to $3.092 billion in FY 2025 and will fall to $2.118 billion in FY 2026 the federal fiscal year begins Oct. 1). Under SS&MS, is Engineering Safety & Operations. Its budget will fall from $1.088 billion in FY 2024 to $620.3million in FY 2026 and $446.5 million in FY 2027. And under ES&O, the Agency Technical Authority funding will fall from $196.1 million in FY 2024 to $69.6 million in FY 2026. 'The Agency Technical Authority program protects the health and safety of NASA's workforce by evaluating programs, projects, and operations to ensure safe and successful completion. ATA capabilities provide expert technical excellence, mission assurance, and technical authority agency wide.' IV&V falls directly under the Agency Technical Authority, with funding from several accounts. Funding from the Safety, Security and Mission Services account will be cut from $39.2 million to $9.9 million – for software assurance support for Moon and Mars programs, as mentioned above. Funding from the Exploration account will go from $3.3 million to $2 million. Funding from the Space Operations account will go from $800,000 to $700,000. One account source will see an increase: Science account funding will go from $0 in FY 2024 to $1.2 million for FY 2026. A footnote hints at some flexibility: 'The IV&V program will work with Mission Directorate to adjust FY 2026 allocations as the FY 2026 operating plan is developed.' Some information provided to The Dominion Post noted that cuts to IV&V have been proposed in the past, but not to this extent.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pentagon 'All In' On Air Force's F-47, Puts Navy's F/A-XX On Ice
The Pentagon's proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget fully commits to the U.S. Air Force's F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter, while effectively shelving the U.S. Navy's plans for a next-generation carrier-based F/A-XX combat jet. U.S. officials say a key driver behind this decision is a fear that America's industrial base cannot develop and produce two different advanced stealth fighters simultaneously. In addition, previously planned purchases of stealth F-35 Joint Strike Fighters are set to be slashed by more than half as part of a shift in resources to key upgrades for those aircraft and sustaining existing fleets. Earlier today, senior U.S. officials briefed TWZ and other outlets on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal, the release of which has occurred with little fanfare after being significantly delayed, a significant departure from previous years. 'F-47, the first crewed sixth-generation fighter, is moving forward with $3.5 billion in funding following President Trump's March 2025 decision to proceed with Boeing's development,' a senior U.S. military official said. 'The Navy's FA-XX program will maintain minimal development funding to preserve the ability to leverage F-47 work while preventing over-subscription of qualified defense industrial base engineers.' Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth first publicly disclosed the $3.5 billion figure at a Congressional hearing earlier this month. 'We are maintaining a request of $74 million for the F/A-XX program in this budget to complete the design of that aircraft. We did make a strategic decision to go all in on F-47,' a senior U.S. defense official added. This is 'due to our belief that the industrial base can only handle going fast on one program at this time, and the presidential priority to go all in on F-47, and get that program right.' Funding the completion of the design work on the Navy's program will allow for 'maintaining the option for F/A-XX in the future,' the senior U.S. defense official continued. Earlier this month, Boeing Defense and Space CEO Steve Parker very publicly pushed back on the idea that the U.S. industrial base was not capable of working on the F-47 and F/A-XX at the same time. Northrop Grumman has also been in the running for F/A-XX, something the company pressed ahead with after dropping out of the Air Force's NGAD combat jet competition in 2023. Lockheed Martin was reportedly eliminated from the Navy's next-generation fighter competition in March. Regardless, the F/A-XX program has been very clearly in limbo for months now. In March, reports indicated that a contract announcement for the Navy's next-generation fighter would follow quickly from the F-47 news, but that never materialized. A report earlier this month from Bloomberg News, based on budget documents the outlet had seen, had said that the Pentagon was instead moving to redirect $500 million in funding from F/A-XX to F-47, and called attention to the industrial base concerns. 'At this time, I would say pretty much everything is under consideration to get the TACAIR [tactical aviation] capability that our warfighters need as quickly as possible,' the senior U.S. defense official added in response to a question about whether a navalized variant of the F-47 might now be on the table. 'That's really what we're looking at the most, is the schedule of all these programs.' Though the F-47 and the F/A-XX have long been expected, in very broad terms, to share some mission sets, including acting as an aerial 'quarterback' for drones, fundamental requirements for a land-based fighter differ significantly from those of a carrier-based design. The F-35 offers a prime example of this reality in that, despite their outward appearance, there is only approximately 20 percent parts commonality between the land and carrier-based variants, as well as the short takeoff and vertical landing-capable version. Aviation Week reported last year that the Navy was forging ahead with F/A-XX as a distinctly independent effort from the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) combat jet program, which resulted in the F-47. As noted, the Pentagon's latest budget proposal for the 2026 Fiscal Year also includes cuts to planned purchases of F-35s. 'F-35 procurement is reduced from 74 to 47 aircraft,' according to the senior U.S. military official, who did not offer a breakdown by variant. Previous reports have said that it is F-35As for the Air Force that are getting slashed. Doing this will allow for 'maintaining minimum production rates, with increased funding for Block 4 modernization and significant investment in spares of about a billion dollars to address sustainment and readiness challenges.' The Block 4 upgrade package promises major improvements for all variants of the F-35, including a new radar, improved electronic warfare capabilities, and an expanded arsenal, but has suffered significant delays and cost growth. Joint Strike Fighters also need an additional set of hardware and software updates, called Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3), to even be able to accept the planned Block 4 upgrades, work on which also encountered significant difficulties. The U.S. military went so far as to stop accepting deliveries of new F-35s for roughly a year due to issues with TR-3. Starting in May, executives from Lockheed Martin have been publicly saying that their position is that the development of TR-3 is now complete, though the U.S. military had yet to formally sign off on that as of earlier this month. Spare parts shortages, coupled with other maintenance and supply chain problems, have been longstanding issues for the F-35 program. These problems, collectively, have been a major contributor to low readiness rates for all U.S. F-35 fleets for years now, something TWZ has explored in great detail in this past feature. The Fiscal Year 2026 budget request does include $3 billion in funding for more F-15EX Eagle II fighters for the Air Force, which would increase the planned fleet size of those aircraft from 98 to 129. That service is also asking for $870 million to continue moving ahead on its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drone program, which would support continued work on the initial General Atomics YFQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A designs, as well as the ongoing refinement of concepts of operations. When it comes to any annual budget request from the Pentagon, it is also important to note that Congress still has to approve the proposal and fund it. Legislators regularly make changes to defense spending plans, including when it comes to major weapon system programs. F/A-XX funding has notably been under threat from Congress in the past. Many lawmakers have been raising concerns about dwindling U.S. combat jet inventories across the services, in general, for years now. Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, asked Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Allvin at a hearing in May about whether he would be interested in receiving additional upgraded F-16s to bolster his force. The Air Force's top officer told Cotton he would get back to him about whether that was an 'advisable situation.' Lockheed Martin has also started pitching a concept for a 'Ferrari' or 'NASCAR upgrade' to the F-35's core 'chassis,' together with a huge and as-yet unproven claim that it could offer 80 percent of the capability of a sixth-generation design at 50 percent of the cost. TWZ has noted in the past that any work toward that end could help provide a hedge against delays with the F-47 and/or F/A-XX. The Pentagon does continues to insist that it has not completely abandoned the idea of next-generation carrier-based combat jets for the Navy, despite its stated focus on the F-47 at present. 'The department is dedicated to sixth-generation capability. So that's where we're going,' the senior U.S. military official said during the briefing today. 'How that's that's achieved right now, the F-47 is on path to be the leading agent of that, but sixth-gen is where we want to go.' For the moment at least, the F-47, and by extension Boeing, has emerged as the big next-generation tactical aviation winner in the Pentagon's latest proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Contact the author: joe@
UPI
19-06-2025
- General
- UPI
Navy meets 2025 recruitment goal months ahead of schedule
Midshipmen sing during the Naval Academy graduation ceremony in Annapolis, Md., in May 2024. The Navy says it has already met its recruiting goal for 2025. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo June 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy is saying it has already met its recruiting goal for 2025 and did so earlier than expected. Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan said that he is "proud to announce that we have met our Fiscal Year 2025 recruiting goal three months ahead of schedule," in a post to X Wednesday evening. "A total of 40,600 future Sailors have stepped up to serve," he added, who will be sent to its Recruit Training Command by September. In an accompanying video, Phelan credited the efforts of naval recruiters, team innovation and "the courage of thousands of who stepped forward to serve" in regard to its having reached its enlistment target so quickly. The Navy further stated in a press release that it had also surpassed its 40,600 recruitments aim in 2024 by 378 people, and those 40,978 recruits were the most contracted since 2002. The Navy Recruiting Command's Rear Admiral Jim Waters said of the naval recruitment process in the release that "It shows that when we remove barriers, accelerate processes, and meet people where they are, the right individuals answer the call." He also noted that "Meeting the recruiting target is not the finish line," but instead a signal that "we're on the right course and ready to keep building the force of the future." The Navy has made moves in the recent past to help attract potential sailors, such as having raised its maximum enlistment age to 41 in 2022, and as of 2024 allows those without a high school diploma to join as long as they achieve a score a 50 or higher on the Armed Forces Qualification Test.
