Today, NASA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) released its 2025 Top Management and Performance Challenges Report outlining five critical challenges facing the Agency:
- Returning Humans to the Moon
Given the substantial cost, historical significance, and national relevance of the Artemis campaign, NASA must identify and implement effective ways to reduce costs and enable fiscal sustainability for this flagship human exploration effort. - Sustaining a Human Presence in Low Earth Orbit
As NASA prepares to retire the International Space Station in 2030 and transition to commercial destinations, the Agency must maintain current operations and ensure astronaut safety. - Improving Management of Major Programs and Projects
To achieve its ambitious mission goals and effectively allocate resources, NASA must control costs, provide greater transparency, and manage risks as it transitions some projects to more service-based commercial acquisitions. - Managing Cybersecurity Risks and Emerging Technology
As cyberattacks become more sophisticated, NASA must maintain cutting-edge information technology capabilities and address its decentralized cybersecurity approach. - Sustaining Mission Critical Capabilities
To maintain operational effectiveness, the Agency must manage the needs of its technical workforce, address aging infrastructure and facilities, and mitigate risks as it transitions some communication capabilities to commercial industry.
In fiscal year 2025, the OIG’s Office of Audits conducted 15 audits and outlined 54 recommendations to improve Agency operations. During that time, the Office of Investigations recovered nearly $7.3 million from criminal, civil, and administrative actions, returning $1.4 million directly to NASA.
In the coming year, the OIG will continue providing independent, objective, and comprehensive oversight to help NASA address its current challenges—ensuring the Agency can take Americans to new heights.
