> Section 1. Determinations. The agencies and agency subdivisions set forth in section 2 of this order are hereby determined to have as a primary function intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work. It is also hereby determined that Chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code, cannot be applied to these agencies and agency subdivisions in a manner consistent with national security requirements and considerations.
> Sec. 2. National Security Exclusions. Executive Order 12171 of November 19, 1979, as amended, is further amended by: […] (c) Adding the following after section 1-419: “1-420. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration. […]
This is, in reality, the death of NASA. By decree, it can no longer serve the purpose for which it was formed and has been replaced with a very different agency that happens to have the same name.
It's such a shame to see the US abandon peaceful, civilian-run space efforts.
Does that mean that NASA is a spy agency now? Are there any different or additional ways to interpret this? And what are the consequences beyond the obvious?
AIUI, national security government apparatus are not allowed to be unionized, so by declaring NASA being about natsec the workers' labour 'rights' are rescinded.
Further NASA was put in charge of all space activities except "activities peculiar to or primarily associated with the development of weapons systems, military operations, or the defense", which went to the DOD (Section 102):
> Section 1. Determinations. The agencies and agency subdivisions set forth in section 2 of this order are hereby determined to have as a primary function intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work. It is also hereby determined that Chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code, cannot be applied to these agencies and agency subdivisions in a manner consistent with national security requirements and considerations.
> Sec. 2. National Security Exclusions. Executive Order 12171 of November 19, 1979, as amended, is further amended by: […] (c) Adding the following after section 1-419: “1-420. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration. […]
* https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/08/furt...
Also in Section 2: patent/trademark office and the National Weather Service.
It's such a shame to see the US abandon peaceful, civilian-run space efforts.
All US spy satellites are under the NRO:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Reconnaissance_Office
Positioning nuclear weapons in space is not allowed per treaty that US ratified:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty
Branches of the DOD run ICBMs.
Further NASA was put in charge of all space activities except "activities peculiar to or primarily associated with the development of weapons systems, military operations, or the defense", which went to the DOD (Section 102):
* https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-72/pdf/STATUTE-7...
So all military "space flight" is explicitly not with-in NASA's purview.