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Matías S. Zavia
WriterAerospace and energy industries journalist at Xataka.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced on Friday a $420 million reduction in NASA consulting and other vendor contracts. The number seems oddly familiar.
Directed by DOGE. NASA hasn’t provided many details about the recent cuts. However, the contracts scheduled for cancellation have been deemed “redundant” and “misaligned with [the agency’s] core mission priorities.” This decision follows guidelines from DOGE, an auditing body created by President Donald Trump and headed by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
The largest cut will come from NASA’s Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center. The contract is valued at nearly $30 million, resulting in an effective savings of $19.4 million. Other confirmed cancellations include four agreements worth $15 million each with consulting firms Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, Guidehouse, and McKinsey & Co. Terminating these and other contracts will save NASA $420 million.
Musk’s favorite number. A peculiar coincidence here relates to Musk’s fondness for the number 420. Musk likes to brag about being born 69 days after April 20–or 4/20, slang for weed smoking time. In fact, the number 420 became more prominent in his life after he smoked a joint during Joe Rogan’s podcast.
For Musk, the number also signifies the day he removed the blue check from X users who had held it for free during the Twitter era (April 20, 2023). It also marks the first time in history that a Starship was fully stacked (Booster 4 + Ship 20). Additionally, it’s associated with one of his most notable posts, where he announced that he was taking Tesla private at $420 a share.
NASA scientists are concerned. The current cuts are largely focused on consulting. However, the scientific community that relies on the space agency is apprehensive about the potential for larger cuts or layoffs. So far, NASA has “only” laid off 23 employees due to the closure of three offices.
Although diversity programs are less affected, the DOGE-led cuts also target branches focused on health, climate, and natural resources. These are vital to NASA’s research. According to Space News, rumors suggest that the 2026 budget for the agency’s science programs could be drastically reduced by as much as 50%.
Conflict of interest. DOGE isn’t an official government department, and Musk isn’t a senior official. However, his potential to receive multimillion-dollar contracts from the federal government complicates matters.
The Pentagon has already expressed interest in using Starship for point-to-point cargo transportation, and NASA relies on the rocket to carry astronauts to the Moon. Starlink is also a crucial strategic asset for the U.S., and SpaceX is developing a spy version called Starshield for the National Reconnaissance Office. Finally, Trump’s nominee to lead NASA is private astronaut Jared Isaacman. He’s Musk’s business partner on two of SpaceX’s biggest private missions.
Image | NASA
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