[vsskanth]

What is the actual intent behind decimating NASA ? It's tiny compared to the defense budget and fairly high ROI in terms of maintaining US scientific leadership.

[gmd63]

Good question. I suppose it's adjacent to the intent behind electing a felon career con man who committed sedition.

[jschveibinz]

A RIF, but not a decimation. In 2024, NASA employed just under 18,000 civil servants. Additionally, NASA supports the employment of tens of thousands more through contracts, grants, and partnerships with various organizations, e.g. FFRDC, universities, etc.

[rimunroe]

2,000 is 11% of 18,000, so it’s almost exactly a decimation by the original meaning of that word

[KevinMS]

I think a lot of their budget was related to launching rockets, and they don't do that much anymore.

[jimbob45]

Like the New York Jets, NASA did one generationally awesome thing in 1969 and have been riding on the goodwill from that for the last 56 years. Both claim that their failures are due to underfunding and management issues but fans are becoming suspicious.

[dimator]

At the risk of feeding trolls: Voyager was 1969? Opportunity was 1969? Hubble was 1969? JWST was 1969?