{"id":20606,"date":"2026-10-07T12:05:44","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T12:05:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.theck1.no\/?p=20606"},"modified":"2026-10-07T12:05:44","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T12:05:44","slug":"why-is-nasa-bringing-7500-contractors-back-to-work-as-civil-servants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.theck1.no\/?p=20606","title":{"rendered":"Why is NASA bringing 7,500 contractors back to work as civil servants?"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-rewritten:<\/strong> This is a summary of an article from Ars Technica, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.<\/p>\n

Ars Technica •
\n Eric Berger
\n • October 6, 2026<\/strong><\/div>\n\n

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is reversing a long-term trend by converting 7,500 contract positions back into civil service roles. This move aims to rebuild what he calls "core competencies" within the agency. While contractors have historically supplemented NASA’s workforce, Griffin noted that critical jobs were often outsourced to increase headcount without raising the official NASA civil service count. Isaacman argues this new structure removes inefficiencies like layered management and contractual barriers found in contractor setups.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The initiative faces opposition from major firms like Amentum, Jacobs Engineering Group, and KBR. These companies argue the current system provides necessary flexibility for innovation and lobbying support in Congress. They dispute claims that contractors charge high overhead, stating their fees are only about 2 or 3 percent of an employee’s compensation. Isaacman has cited staff memos claiming early pilots found over $100 million in savings, potentially growing to more than $1 billion.<\/p>\n

Implementation has created some disruption and uncertainty for employees. Many former contractors must leave their firms to take government jobs, which they cannot do simultaneously. Some express frustration with pay differences or the Trump administration’s political environment. Additionally, technical staff reported confusion during Artemis II launch preparations because contractor rules restricted direct access to schematics, forcing controllers to view them remotely via screen sharing instead of on local displays.<\/p>\n

\n

Source:<\/strong> Ars Technica •
\n Eric Berger
\n • October 6, 2026<\/p>\n

Read the original article at Ars Technica →<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Ars Technica, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story. Ars Technica • Eric Berger • October 6, 2026 NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is reversing a long-term trend<\/p>\n

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