Draconian budget and staff cuts could mean another Challenger disaster, warn current and former NASA employees.

A palpable sense of alarm is sweeping through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as proposed budget cuts and impending mass layoffs ignite a firestorm of protest.

The White House's 2026 budget proposal threatens dozens of active and upcoming science missions designed to explore the cosmos.

NASA has lost about 500 people via normal attrition as well since Trump took office in January. Counting those losses, NASA's workforce will shrink to about 14,000 by Jan. 9, 2026, when the employees who said yes during the DRP's second phase will come off the rolls, Warner said in the statement.

On July 20, the 54th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing, nearly 100 people gathered outside the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Budget Turmoil Sparks Protests Across NASA The protest wasn’t a celebration—it was a warning.

NASA faces a proposed $6 billion agency-wide funding cut by the Trump administration, including a 47% reduction of science missions and activities.