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Freedom of speech is a fundamental right we all still retain as federal employees. This freedom under the 1st amendment protects our ability to speak freely to the public while in our capacities as private citizens on matters that are of public concern (including sharing non-controlled information on matters of public concern which we have access to due to our unique roles as federal employees) when it does not interfere with, and is not a part of our ordinary job duties (see: 1 & 2). Whistleblower protection laws also further protect federal employees from retaliation for public disclosures of certain types of whistleblower information. Recently a federal union president, Ellen Mei, of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) representing employees at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) was given notice she would be fired in retaliation for a press interview she did warning the public about the government shutdown’s impacts to SNAP benefits. GESTA leadership has signed on to the petition protesting her firing for this protected speech, and you can also add your name to this petition, which has been organized by the Federal Union Network, at this link.
We want to provide clarification on your right as a federal employee to petition and provide information to Congress including on issues impacting the federal workplace, Goddard and NASA. The right to do so is protected by law under 5 USC 7211 which states "The right of [US government] employees, individually or collectively, to petition Congress or a Member of Congress, or to furnish information to either House of Congress, or to a committee or Member thereof, may not be interfered with or denied." Note such activity is not partisan/political activity since it is not advocating for the election/non-election of a particular individual or a particular party to a political position and is therefore not subject to Hatch Act restrictions.
 During Acting Center Director Cynthia Simmons’ and NASA Associate Administrator of Science Mission Directorate, Nicola “Nicky” Fox’s, Goddard wide Welcome Back and Community Briefing on November 19th, GESTA leadership handed out information outside the auditorium. Although not organized by GESTA, some GESTA members and other employees also printed signs for employees to pick up and hold during the town hall to remind our leadership and stand in solidarity with other employees in recognizing NASA’s mission. Ultimately, security guards prohibited employees from distributing and bringing the signs into the auditorium. Samples of the printed signs are shown above. They are taken from the NASA mission statement. Some employees and members have now posted them on their office doors. Leftover posters are available in the middle stairwell of Building 34 if you would like to grab one.
On December 16th Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced the Administration would be dismantling the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. This institute is a critical asset to our nation and world providing support for weather and climate data and modeling. NCAR is also a critical partner to NASA, including our members and employees at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS). The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has an action webpage where you can send a letter to your representative asking them to stand up for NCAR in upcoming appropriation bills: https://agu.quorum.us/campaign/151565/
On Monday, December 15th, members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation hosted informal hearings at the Capital focused on the status and future of NASA Goddard and space science in Maryland. They heard from Goddard Center leadership, and other Maryland and Goddard partners in space science. GESTA president Trysh Moton also spoke to the delegation during the event. You can read her opening statement and written testimony to the delegation here. Following these panel discussions, Congressional representatives hosted a press conference where they reiterated their strong support for NASA Goddard. You can view a video of the press conference at the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCal_TusnNE.
As labs, storage areas, and offices are packed up and moved, GESTA would like to remind employees that there are established procedures for reporting hazards, close calls, and mishaps. Every year during safety week we're shown examples of what can happen if safety procedures aren't followed. NASA Goddard carries a long tradition of learning from past mistakes so we don't repeat them. Reporting hazards, mishaps and close calls helps all of us to remain safer in our workplace and protect both people and hardware.
Amidst the chaos and frenzy of the building closure timelines enacted by management, a lot of equipment is being excessed very quickly. Below is a quick review of the proper process for excessing government equipment. Additionally, people in labs not impacted by building moves may be interested in the last section on Reclaiming Excessed Equipment to give a new home to equipment that other labs have been forced to excess.
Below we provide a step-by-step walk through of the NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG) Hotline page for reporting information and concerns related to crime, waste, fraud and abuse.
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