NASA is set to lose at least 2,145 senior staff members as part of the Trump administration's push for budget cuts, Politico reports. The brain drain could severely impact future research and missions, and is happening not long before the organization plans to send a new crew of astronauts to the Moon in 2026.

At least 2,145 senior-ranking NASA employees are set to leave under a push to shed staff, according to documents obtained by POLITICO — potentially spelling trouble for White House space policy and depriving the agency of decades of experience.

Over 2,145 senior NASA employees could leave as the Trump administration proposes a 25% budget cut. The potential layoffs, prompted by efforts to streamline federal spending, threaten NASA's operations,

Budget would eliminate several projects that are hitting proposed targets or actively conducting valuable research.

As the administration slashes spending on science, NASA is running low on new missions.

The revisions in the Big Beautiful Bill, signed by the president on July 4, secured $10 billion in funding for NASA programs that were set to be cut by Trump’s proposed 2026 NASA budget. Congressman Dale Strong praised the approved funding.

Last week, seven former heads of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate signed a joint letter to Congress condemning the White House’s suggested 47% cuts to NASA science activities in its 2026 budget proposal.

The “Big, Beautiful Bill” has nearly $10 billion earmarked for NASA – including funding for a Houston program that was on the chopping block.