NASA is facing internal turmoil amidst the first days of the Trump administration, with new leadership and conflicting interests emerging. Interim Administrator Janet Petro has ordered the removal of diversity contracts and sent emails to employees perceived as an attempt to push them out. SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s influence on the agency has also raised concerns, particularly after he claimed NASA had “stranded” astronauts on the space station.
Musk’s ownership of a key contractor and his growing involvement in government operations have created an uncomfortable sense among some NASA employees that they are working for him rather than the government. The appointment of Michael Altenhofen, a longtime SpaceX employee with a background at NASA, as a senior advisor to Petro has further heightened these concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
According to sources across the country, morale at NASA is at an “absurdly low” level. Meetings between civil servants and their leadership have become tense, leaving employees unsure of what the future holds. As the agency navigates this challenging period, it remains to be seen how Petro’s leadership will shape the direction of the organization.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/02/as-nasa-flies-into-turbulence-the-agency-could-use-a-steady-hand