What's Happening?
NASA is taking significant steps to strengthen its workforce by reducing its reliance on contractors. This move comes after a notable reduction in its civil servant numbers, which has impacted the agency's technical capabilities. NASA Administrator Jared
Isaacman announced a new directive aimed at reinstating key engineering and operational competencies that have been lost due to outsourcing. Currently, about 75% of NASA's personnel are employed through contractors, leading to inefficiencies and high costs, estimated at $1.4 billion annually. The directive outlines a plan to transition roles back to civil service, with NASA's field centers and mission directorates tasked with identifying positions to be filled by internal staff within 30 days. A rapid onboarding process for new civil servants is expected to follow within 60 days.
Why It's Important?
This initiative is crucial for NASA as it seeks to restore its operational autonomy and focus on its core mission objectives. By reducing its dependence on contractors, NASA aims to rebuild its internal expertise, particularly in aeronautics and spaceflight. The move is expected to address gaps in essential technical and operational capabilities that have arisen due to the agency's reliance on external resources. This strategy not only aims to improve efficiency and reduce costs but also to enhance NASA's ability to innovate and maintain its leadership in space exploration. The shift towards in-house expertise is likely to have a positive impact on the agency's long-term sustainability and its ability to achieve its ambitious goals.
What's Next?
NASA plans to implement several measures to support this transition, including improving the talent pipeline through cooperation with the Office of Personnel Management, enhancing training programs, and expanding internship opportunities. The agency also intends to incorporate 'right-to-repair' provisions in future contracts for contractor equipment maintenance and establish makerspaces at all field centers for hardware development. These steps are part of a broader effort to rebuild NASA's internal capabilities and ensure that the agency can effectively carry out its mission without over-reliance on external contractors.
