An executive order signed by President Trump on August 28, 2020, has removed the right for NASA employees to engage in collective bargaining, significantly impacting thousands of civil servants across the agency. The order, justified on the basis of national security, strips away long-standing labor protections that have safeguarded the rights of engineers, scientists, and technicians at NASA centers nationwide.
The ramifications of this decision are particularly evident at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, where the Goddard Engineers, Scientists and Technicians Association (GESTA) can no longer legally represent its members. This change comes at a time when employees are already grappling with program cuts, facility closures, and early resignations, marking the largest rollback of labor protections for NASA employees in the agency’s history.
Executive Order Details and Impact
The executive order amends Executive Order 12171, which previously governed federal employees’ rights to organize and bargain collectively. Now, NASA is among several agencies excluded from the protections outlined in Chapter 71 of Title 5. The justification provided cites the agency’s involvement in “intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work.”
Other agencies affected by this exclusion include parts of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and specific units within the U.S. Patent Office and Bureau of Reclamation. Mark Gaston Pearce, a former chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, expressed concern regarding the definition of “national security” and its implications for employees’ rights.
He stated, “The question is what constitutes a national security concern sufficient for the president to exclude employees from their abilities to engage in collective bargaining?”
With enforcement mechanisms weakened, existing collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) at NASA are now at risk. Prior to this order, approximately 53% of NASA’s workforce belonged to a bargaining unit, and now thousands of employees have lost those protections almost overnight.
Concerns Over Working Conditions and Employee Rights
NASA’s management is reportedly aware of the executive order and is working to align with the President’s vision for the agency. GESTA President Tryshanda Moton noted that she had not received any official communication from NASA regarding the order. As a result of the changes, negotiated terms concerning office assignments and remote work can be nullified without cause.
According to Pearce, the administration’s stance indicates a belief that labor management relations should not be bilateral. The lack of a mechanism for employees to appeal decisions leaves them with limited options, primarily advocacy and litigation. “There will probably be causes of actions that can be pursued, but the practical nature of these circumstances is such that these employees will need to continue to keep working,” he warned.
At the Goddard center, employees have been facing significant reductions in budget and workforce. President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request proposed the largest cut to NASA in its history, alongside a staggering 47% reduction in science funding. Many employees report a lack of transparency, with crucial information often relayed to them by GESTA before their supervisors are informed.
Facility closures, such as the Goddard Visitor Center and cafeteria, are further exacerbating the situation. An engineer at Goddard expressed that these closures hinder opportunities for colleagues to connect and collaborate, stating, “A big impact of that is being able to meet with colleagues and build relationships over lunch.”
Moreover, employees are concerned about the implications of additional cuts to health and fitness facilities, which could affect their occupational safety and access to necessary health checkups.
With the implementation of the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), NASA is poised to lose more than 20% of its workforce, approximately 4,000 employees. The engineer remarked, “It does feel to me, and to a lot of people … that this is all part of making life miserable so that people leave.”
As Congress considers measures to restore NASA’s budget to previous levels, the challenges faced by employees may not be easily reversible. The engineer noted, “Even though Congress is trying to pass a budget that gives NASA more funding, NASA management is taking actions as if the president’s budget request is going to be final.”
With the new executive order in place, advocacy efforts may be the only recourse left for NASA employees. Pearce highlighted that federal employees cannot strike and must find ways to lobby their representatives to amplify their voices.
The environment at NASA, particularly at Goddard, has become increasingly unstable, and employees fear that without the ability to collectively bargain, their rights and working conditions may continue to deteriorate. As one engineer put it, “I’m sure they won’t calm down; the struggle now goes beyond budgets.”
