In a surprising turn of events, the White House decided not to fire NASA's probationary employees—more than 1,000 staffers across the agency's headquarters and 10 field centers—despite previous plans to do so. The decision, which spooked the employees throughout the day, appears to have been made at the last moment, leaving many to wonder what changed. Sources hinted that private astronaut Jared Isaacman might have influenced the decision to preserve the talent of both new hires and high-performing staff, thereby helping the agency maintain key personnel amidst broader federal workforce cuts. However, this reprieve does not guarantee that NASA will escape other significant budget or employment cuts in the future.

Key Points:

• Over 1,000 probationary employees at NASA were expected to be terminated but were spared.
• The decision to halt the firing came late in the day, leaving employees anxious throughout.
• The move possibly stemmed from the influence of private astronaut Jared Isaacman, who may have wished to retain control over the agency's staffing.
• The reprieve covered roughly 6% of NASA's workforce, including both new hires and high performers.
• Despite the decision, further reductions and budget cuts in the coming months remain a possibility, with negotiations expected with Congress.

Looks like NASA was saved from getting its "new hire" boot kicked out—talk about dodging a launch bump!
Link to Article