According to documents obtained by Politico, at least 2,145 senior-ranking NASA employees are preparing to leave the agency as part of a broader effort to reduce staff. The move aligns with the White House’s proposed 2026 budget, which calls for a 25% cut to NASA’s funding and a reduction of more than 5,000 positions. If approved by Congress, the cuts would leave NASA with its smallest budget and workforce since the early 1960s.