Trump Executive Order Strips NASA Employees of Union Rights

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on August 28, 2023, that significantly alters the labor rights of NASA employees. This directive removes the agency’s civil servants from federal labor-management protections, effectively eliminating their collective bargaining rights. The order affects thousands of engineers, scientists, and technicians across various NASA centers, marking one of the most substantial rollbacks of labor protections in the agency’s history.

The executive order amends Executive Order 12171 by placing NASA among agencies excluded from Chapter 71 of Title 5, which governs the rights of federal employees to organize, engage in collective bargaining, and negotiate workplace conditions. This new exclusion is based on the agency’s involvement in activities deemed to relate to “intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work.” Other agencies impacted by similar exclusions include segments of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and parts of the U.S. Patent Office.

The ramifications of this executive order are particularly evident at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. Here, the Goddard Engineers, Scientists and Technicians Association (GESTA) has found itself unable to legally represent employees as program cuts, facility closures, and early resignations become more frequent. The loss of union representation strips away long-standing rights that have been crucial for more than half of NASA’s workforce.

Mark Gaston Pearce, former chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, expressed concerns regarding the implications of the executive order. He questioned the criteria used to define national security concerns that warrant such exclusions. Pearce noted that the typical oversight mechanisms, such as the Merit System Protection Board and the Federal Labor Relations Authority, have been weakened due to vacancies and a lack of quorum, leaving employees without essential protections.

Prior to the executive order, approximately 53% of NASA’s workforce was part of a bargaining unit. Now, thousands of employees have lost those protections overnight. NASA officials have acknowledged the executive order, stating they are working to align with the President’s vision for the agency. GESTA President Tryshanda Moton reported that she had not received any formal communication from NASA management regarding the changes.

The executive order allows for existing collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) to be nullified without cause. This development threatens negotiated terms related to office assignments, remote work, and other crucial working conditions. Pearce commented, “The message is pretty clear: This administration does not believe that labor management relations should be in any respect bilateral.”

Employees at NASA face significant limitations moving forward, as they are prohibited from striking and have limited options for advocacy. Pearce highlighted that while there may be legal avenues to pursue, the practical challenges of funding lawsuits and the lengthy legal process could leave employees vulnerable in the interim.

The situation at Goddard has been exacerbated by ongoing budget cuts and abrupt management decisions associated with President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. This proposal represents the largest funding cut in NASA’s history, with science funding potentially reduced by 47%. Employees report a decline in transparency, often learning critical information from GESTA before their supervisors are informed.

Recent facility closures, including the Goddard Visitor Center and the cafeteria, have created additional challenges for employees. The visitor center serves as a key outreach tool for the community, while the cafeteria’s closure limits dining options and impacts employee interactions. The Goddard engineer noted, “A big impact of that is being able to meet with colleagues and build relationships over lunch.”

Amid these changes, NASA management has begun implementing cuts, issuing reductions in force notifications (RIFs), and encouraging employees to take advantage of the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP). As a result, NASA may lose more than 20% of its workforce, with around 4,000 employees potentially exiting the agency.

While Congress has indicated a willingness to restore NASA’s budget to 2025 levels, the urgency of the present situation means that many of the preemptive cuts may not be reversible. Pearce emphasized that employees now face a lack of independent oversight, with their ability to advocate for themselves severely diminished.

Concerns about workplace safety and employee well-being are heightened as NASA workers report increased restrictions. One engineer shared that supervisors have discouraged direct communication with Human Resources without prior approval, creating an environment of fear regarding potential retaliatory actions.

In response to the cuts, employees have organized protests under the banner “NASA Needs Help,” aiming to draw public attention to their struggles and encourage congressional action. The ongoing instability at NASA has left many uncertain about the future, with some fearing that the current environment is intentionally designed to push employees out.

As the situation evolves, Pearce pointed out that the courts may emerge as the only viable recourse for employees seeking to challenge the executive order. The lack of collective bargaining rights and the dismantling of oversight mechanisms signal a troubling shift in labor relations at NASA, a trend that could have lasting implications for the agency and its workforce.