DOGE closes NASA chief scientist office for first time in history

Dr. Katherine Calvin worked her final day as NASA's chief scientist, marking the end of a position that had existed at the agency since 1982. The Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) targeted NASA's Office of the Chief Scientist along with the Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy in March 2026. The closures eliminated 23 positions total. This is the first time in NASA's 68-year history that the agency won't have a chief scientist on staff. The chief scientist role provides independent scientific guidance to NASA leadership on mission decisions and strategic planning. Without this position, NASA loses an internal check on whether the agency's priorities align with sound science. The closures also eliminated NASA's DEIA branch, which managed diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts. These office closures are part of a broader federal science budget crisis. Trump's FY2027 budget proposal proposes cutting NASA's overall budget by 23% to $18.8 billion.