KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla.,None — For the first time since the end of the shuttle program, Kennedy Space Center is offering buyouts to NASA employees, not just employees of contractors.
NASA officials said they are trying to trim back their head count at the space center, so they can stay within their upcoming budget and put their resources into their new rocket and capsule programs.
Eligible NASA workers were offered $25,000 to retire or leave their jobs early.
Most workers from across the space center could apply regardless of whether they worked on the shuttle, but the buyouts had to be approved by NASA management.
The space center was only allotted 150 buyout packages. So at most, it would cut the workforce by less than 5 percent of the 2,100 civil servants.
It's the first time in six years the space agency has offered buyouts. NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said it doesn't mean there are layoffs to follow, but Beutel said it could give the space agency the ability in tight budget times to open up positions in areas like the emerging program to use commercial space flights.
"It gives us the option to move in new people in the skill sets we need," Beutel said.
When NASA has offered buyouts in the past, only about half of the offers were taken.
In the meantime, a bailout plan to pay for the pensions of former shuttle workers continues to move through Congress.
In NASA's contract with shuttle contractor United Space Alliance, the space agency agreed to fund the pension.
Congress is spending $500 million to keep the USA pension afloat.
WFTV
