Saving NASA’s Workforce Act

This bill puts a pause on layoffs at NASA. Until Congress passes a full-year budget for NASA for fiscal year 2026, NASA cannot start or carry out any layoffs. It also cannot fire career employees unless there is a specific reason, like misconduct or poor performance. This covers employees in the competitive service, excepted service (career), and Senior Executive Service (career) at NASA.

The goal is to keep NASA’s workforce stable while funding is up in the air, so workers and the communities around NASA centers aren’t hit by sudden job cuts. These protections add to, not replace, other rules about employee discipline and removals.

• Who is affected: NASA’s federal career employees (competitive service, career excepted service, and career Senior Executive Service)
• What changes: No layoffs or involuntary separations unless for cause (misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency)
• When: From now until a full-year NASA budget for FY2026 becomes law