As we approach the long weekend, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge President’s Day. This occasion serves as an opportunity to reflect on the values of leadership, service, and the ambition that drives our nation forward. These same values inspire our mission at NASA, whether we are achieving scientific breakthroughs, prepping for upcoming missions, or supporting our colleagues. I sincerely appreciate your unwavering commitment to our objectives. Here are a few key updates for this week:

Transition to In-Person Work: The Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget have granted approval for us to proceed with our plan to return to in-person work. I want to extend my thanks to our agency team for their efforts in creating this plan. Most team members will report to the office full-time starting Feb. 28, though a few exceptions may apply as we evaluate available space and other considerations. I encourage everyone to review our guidance and FAQs on the OneNASA site, which provides essential information for a smooth transition back to the office, including resources to secure necessary IT support. Please remember to return any equipment you took home during telework.

New Executive Order on Workforce Optimization: Agency leaders are closely monitoring the latest executive order urging agencies to prepare for potential large-scale workforce reductions, among other initiatives. NASA is committed to adhering to this order and will update everyone as we receive additional information.

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Engagement: The DOGE team has arrived at our agency to begin their review of contracts and identify opportunities for efficiency enhancements.

Deferred Resignation Program Update: The opt-in period for the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) has ended, and NASA is now in the process of implementing the program. Employees enrolled in the DRP, along with their supervisors, will receive emails detailing the next steps.

Welcome New Senior Advisor: This week, we are pleased to announce that Ryan Whitley has joined us as a senior advisor to the administrator. With extensive experience in both commercial and civil space sectors, Ryan is a seasoned executive who has successfully led major business development, program management, and engineering initiatives. Previously, he oversaw engineering teams at various NASA centers and worked as a director of civil space policy for the National Space Council.

This week, our efforts were prominently highlighted as we hosted the annual Moon to Mars Architecture Workshop with industry and academic participants, supported Blue Ghost Mission One’s lunar journey with NASA science and tech payloads, and identified a candidate for the fastest-orbiting exoplanet system discovered to date. These achievements serve as a powerful reminder of our resolve to push boundaries and strive for excellence in all that we do.

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the stunning image captured by the James Webb Space Telescope of HH30—an edge-on protoplanetary disk featuring outflows of gas. This image beautifully illustrates how cosmic dust gathers to form planets and highlights our journey toward deeper understanding of the universe. Let’s maintain this momentum and stay prepared for the challenges ahead.

Embrace the Challenge,

Janet