NASA is now a spy agency, thanks to Trump’s order
NASA Is Now a Spy Agency, Thanks to Trump’s Executive Order
By Akash Pandey | Sep 18, 2025, 06:23 PM
What’s the Story?
Late last month, the Trump administration issued an executive order quietly designating NASA as a national intelligence and security agency. This change means NASA’s primary functions will now include “intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work.”
The shift in status was first reported by Keith Cowing, founder of NASA Watch and a former scientist at the space agency. This marks a significant departure for NASA, which has spent the past 67 years primarily focused on space exploration and space sciences.
Employee Unrest
The status change has sparked protests among NASA employees. A major point of contention is the order adding NASA to the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (FSLMRS), which excludes it from collective bargaining representation. Many viewed this as an attack on labor rights.
As a result, NASA employees organized a demonstration outside the agency’s Washington, DC headquarters earlier this week, voicing their discontent with the administration’s move.
Budget Impact and Space Race with China
Alongside the executive order, the Trump administration has proposed nearly a 25% cut to NASA’s 2026 budget. The proposed reduction would slash funding from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion, with the majority of cuts hitting the agency’s science programs.
Meanwhile, Sean Duffy, acting chief of NASA, has emphasized that President Trump is eager for the United States to reach the Moon and Mars before China does — highlighting the ongoing space race between the two nations.
NASA’s Uncertain Future
The executive order and budget cuts come at a turbulent time for NASA. The White House has threatened to halve the agency’s science budget for the next fiscal year, potentially putting dozens of major space missions on hold.
While some lawmakers have suggested more lenient revisions to the proposed budget, time is running out for NASA as it navigates this uncertain new direction under the Trump administration.
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