Ankara: NASA announced it has eliminated its chief scientist office and two other departments as part of cost-cutting measures aligned with the Trump administration's federal efficiency drive.

According to Anadolu Agency, a memo from Acting Administrator Janet Petro stated that NASA is making phased reductions as part of an upcoming reorganization effort in coordination with the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The specific departments being closed include NASA's Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, the Office of the Chief Scientist, and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility branch in the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity. The reorganization will also reduce the workforce of these departments.

The changes will affect around 20 NASA employees, including chief scientist and climate expert Katharine Calvin, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden to lead climate efforts. These employees will have their final workday on April 10. The role of the chief scientist, which has existed since 1982 and was briefly eliminated in 2005 before being reinstated in 2011, advises top officials on strategic planning but does not hold budget authority. This role is separate from the associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, currently held by Nicola Fox.

Petro acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, emphasizing the importance of resilience and shared commitment to NASA's mission. She encouraged employees to support one another and to embrace the challenge of the changes being implemented.