NASA's workforce has decreased by approximately 10% in the past four weeks, with around 750 employees accepting deferred resignations and over 1,000 probationary employees being terminated. Field center directors have been instructed to prepare for potential additional significant workforce reductions, pending budget negotiations between the White House and Congress.
Nuclear safety employees laid off by the US government last Thursday are being sought for rehire, but communication challenges are hampering the process. The layoffs were part of President Trump's broader initiative to reduce federal workforce, which has already led to 10,000 terminations and 75,000 voluntary departures.
The Trump administration's proposal to reduce NIH grant funding for indirect costs to 15% would significantly impact medical research institutions nationwide, potentially cutting $4-5 billion annually. Major research universities and hospitals could face individual losses exceeding $100 million per year, affecting their ability to maintain research infrastructure and continue current research levels. The policy change could particularly affect complex research areas like genetics and disproportionately impact institutions in states like North Carolina, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.
The Trump administration's sudden freeze on USAID funding and subsequent agency dismantling has severely disrupted global tuberculosis control efforts, affecting diagnosis, treatment, and research programs worldwide. As USAID accounts for approximately one-third of international TB funding ($406 million in 2024), the freeze has forced the closure of critical TB services in high-burden countries, leaving patients without access to essential medications and diagnostics. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against the administration while experts warn about potential increases in drug-resistant TB cases and heightened risks to global public health.
The Trump administration's 'buyout' offer to federal workers has garnered approximately 20,000 acceptances, representing 1% of the workforce, falling short of the 5-10% target. The controversial program offers continued payment through September 2020 for immediate resignation, despite facing opposition from unions and legal scrutiny. While some employees may have already planned to leave through normal attrition, the administration views this as part of their broader government restructuring effort.