Trump’s Executive Order Strips NASA Workers of Union Rights

A new executive order signed by President Donald Trump has removed federal labor-management protections for NASA employees, effectively eliminating their rights to unionize. Signed on August 28, 2020, just before the Labor Day weekend, the order affects thousands of engineers, scientists, and technicians across NASA’s centers. This action marks the most significant rollback of labor rights in the agency’s history, raising concerns about the working conditions of the space agency’s civil servants.

The executive order, which amends Executive Order 12171, excludes NASA from Chapter 71 of Title 5 of the U.S. Code, which governs collective bargaining rights for federal employees. The justification for this exclusion is tied to the agency’s involvement in “intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work.” Alongside NASA, other agencies such as the satellite and weather divisions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and certain units within the U.S. Patent Office are also affected.

At the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, the Goddard Engineers, Scientists and Technicians Association (GESTA) finds itself unable to legally represent its members. This comes at a time when the agency is facing cuts to programs and facilities, alongside a wave of early resignations. “The message is pretty clear: This administration does not believe that labor management relations should be in any respect bilateral,” said Mark Gaston Pearce, former chairman of the National Labor Relations Board during the Obama administration.

The implications of the executive order are significant. Prior to the order, approximately 53% of NASA’s workforce belonged to a union. Now, thousands of employees have lost the protections that had been in place for decades. Existing collective bargaining agreements can be nullified without cause, jeopardizing negotiated terms related to office assignments, remote work, and other critical workplace conditions.

NASA officials acknowledge the new order and are in the process of aligning their operations accordingly. An official stated that the agency is aware of the executive order and is working to implement it in line with the President’s vision. Meanwhile, GESTA President Tryshanda Moton reported that she had not received any official communication from NASA management regarding the order.

As the situation unfolds, employees are left with few options beyond advocacy and potential legal action. “There will probably be causes of actions that can be pursued,” Pearce noted. “But the practical nature of these circumstances is such that these employees will need to continue to keep working.” The prospect of funding legal battles poses additional challenges for many affected employees.

At Goddard, employees have been facing cuts and abrupt management decisions that align with President Trump’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which includes the largest cut to NASA in the agency’s history. Reports indicate a proposed 47% reduction in NASA’s science funding, leading to a lack of transparency among management decisions. Employees frequently learn critical news from GESTA before their supervisors.

The closures of facilities have also emerged as a contentious issue. The Goddard Visitor Center and cafeteria are set to close, drastically limiting options for employees. “A big impact of that is being able to meet with colleagues and build relationships over lunch,” one engineer expressed. Additionally, discussions about closing the health unit and fitness center have raised concerns about employee wellbeing and safety.

The implications of these closures and cuts extend beyond immediate inconvenience. With NASA’s management making staffing reductions and encouraging participation in the government’s Deferred Resignation Program, the agency is projected to lose over 20% of its workforce, approximately 4,000 employees. “It does feel to me, and to a lot of people, that this is all part of making life miserable so that people leave,” the engineer stated.

Despite Congress signaling a willingness to restore NASA’s budget to previous levels, many employees fear that irreversible damage may have already been done. As the budget discussions continue, NASA workers report an environment of instability and fear, with some supervisors reportedly restricting communication between employees and human resources.

In response to the cuts and closures, employees have organized protests aimed at raising public awareness about their plight. A group called NASA Needs Help has been vocal in calling for Congressional action. As the situation continues to develop, Pearce emphasized the importance of employee advocacy, stating, “Federal employees will have to pursue civically as best as they can.”

With the ability to collectively bargain now severely limited and oversight mechanisms essentially dismantled, employees face a challenging road ahead. The future of labor relations at NASA remains uncertain as workers navigate a landscape marked by budget cuts and diminished rights.