US Government Shutdown & Halts NASA Operations, Leaving Space Agency Offline

Following the US government’s shutdown on October 1st due to Congress’s failure to adopt a budget or temporary funding package, NASA ceased the majority of its operations. NASA is “closed” until further notice, according to a notification on the agency’s website. The closure comes as federal agencies in Washington shut down for the first time in almost six years due to a lack of agreement among lawmakers on spending.

According to NASA, only operations necessary to safeguard people and property are still underway. This includes keeping an eye on the ISS, assisting spacecraft that are presently in use, and doing planetary defence tasks like watching asteroids. Public involvement, teaching, and research initiatives have all been put on hold.

NASA’s Social Media and Daily Updates on a Mute

According to Reuters, NASA has restricted its communications to critical notifications and stopped posting daily mission updates and social media posts. According to the Associated Press, thousands of NASA workers are currently on unpaid furlough due to the closure.

According to the New York Times, the closure would cause delays in the Artemis program, which aims to send humans back to the Moon. Until funds are restored, testing, scheduling, and logistical work have been put on hold. According to the Wall Street Journal, studies that rely on ongoing financing have been impacted by the suspension of research funded by NASA grants at colleges and labs.

Disruption may also affect contractors who work with the agency. Businesses connected to NASA’s supply chain are evaluating the effects of postponed contracts and funding shortages, according to a Bloomberg report. Similar shutdown have occurred at NASA during previous budget disagreements.

 According to CNN, the 35-day government shutdown in 2018–2019 caused thousands of employees to halt work and postponed research missions. According to officials, most scientific and technological advancements are halted during these times, even as critical safety procedures continue.

Staff Left with Limited Work Option

NASA has about 18,000 employees. The majority of public servants have been told not to report to work until funding is restored, according to the Washington Post. During the time off, workers are unable to access government systems or work on their tasks.

A congressional budget standoff preceded the shutdown. Neither a short-term funding package nor a new yearly budget plan could be passed by lawmakers. Noting that essential government functions are impacted, President Joe Biden has encouraged lawmakers to break the impasse. NASA’s operations will continue to be restricted to critical safety functions until a solution is found, and all scientific, research, and exploratory initiatives will be put on hold.