NASA Internal Memo From Associate Administrator Rex Geveden: Freeze on Center Hiring

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Office of the Administrator
Washington, DC 20546-0001

October 19, 2005

TO: Directors, NASA Centers

FROM: Associate Administrator

SUBJECT: Freeze on Center Hiring

As you know, we continue as an Agency to adjust our workforce size and composition to better match our current strategy. We have undertaken specific actions to ameliorate imbalances, including targeted buyouts, reallocation of functions from Headquarters to the Centers, targeted work for in-house performance, and work package agreements between Centers.

The Administrator has also established a “no growth” policy, which has been subject to interpretation by each Center. Because the rebalancing actions are incomplete, we do not yet have a clear understanding of their impact on uncovered capacity or the appropriate ceiling levels for each Center. Therefore, effective immediately, Centers are directed to freeze all hiring activity, including inter-Center transfers, Intergovernmental Personnel Act (PA) assignments, Excepted Service appointments (NEWterm), and temporary and external hires. Offers extended before Friday, October 21,2005, may be honored. Intra-Center transfers and promotions are not affected by this freeze.

After the Headquarters Institutional Requirements Review and Agency buyouts are completed, I will be reviewing the Center requirements to determine appropriate Center ceilings. Between now and then, any critical hiring exceptions must be forwarded to me for approval.

Rex D. Geveden

Directors, NASA Centers:

Ames Research Center/Mr. Hubbard
Dryden Flight Research Center/Mr. Petersen
Glenn Research Center/Dr. Earls
Goddard Space Flight Center/Dr. Weiler
Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Dr. Elachi
Johnson Space Center/Gen. Howell
Kennedy Space Center/Mr. Kennedy
Langley Research Center/Ms. Roe
Marshall Space Flight Center/Mr. King
Stennis Space Center/Mr. Parsons