Not sure where to post this, and I don't want to make it political.
I wonder if all of the federal government cuts will affect the new datum rollout (already behind schedule due to COVID, etc) and the NGS advisor program. I can't imagine they are immune, unless it being a small agency they pass under the radar.
I know the National Weather Service has been affected, which is a sister agency in NOAA.
Hard to imagine what survey life would be like without the NGS. At least for the type of surveys that I do (non boundary).
With the trucking and transportation industries so dependent on positioning and mapping I think we can count on NGS continuing to be funded. Maybe even getting a boost. If it was just surveyors they were supporting, maybe not so much.
Many of the functions of NGS support both defense and commerce. Very little happens that doesn't depend on a robust spatial data sector. I hope the agency continues its mission. Any further commentary on my part will have to appear in P&R...
Next Tuesday (29) we’ll be attending a retirement event for 20 who will be leaving by the end of the month. During my 40+ years at NGS nothing like this ever happened! I don’t have a complete list of who’s going but this won’t be good.
You betchyer bottom dollar that NGS will be be affected, I daresay decimated.
After the bash Dave mentioned above, there will be some 134 employees left at NGS 😔
Hearken back to January there was 174 employees! and we was lookin to be hirin 5 more back then!!
We'll be losin 40% of our geodesists, and some 25% of our total bodies compared to January.
Doncha be forgettin that there be a Reduction-in-Force comin after that too!
I seen alotta things in my days at NGS.
Ain't seen nuttin like this afore.
Juss the fax.
I will also attempt to keep this apolitical. Many of us look to NGS for leadership, knowledge, and wisdom in many geodetic matters. Many of us were/are hoping that they would/will continue to be the guiding force on geodesy for our continent as their work has brought about many unappreciated perks to society. Due to the collaboration being done between it and NRCAN, our PPP service will be beneficial for parties on both sides of the border (ie. one could use it as a check on OPUS, etc.).
"the option to receive results in NATRF2022 from CSRS-PPP, the Canadian Geodetic Survey’s positioning service"
When we work together, we can do great surveying and geodesy. Chris always has some great stories when you can get a hold of him at the AOLS AGM's. He also has a Michigan office so I imagine you would be able to chat him up when he is down there.
We look forward to seeing what the NGS can come up with this year and in the future.
Again, attempting to keep it apolitical .....
Federal government employees were offered buyouts across the board. Evidently a number of NGS people decided to accept them. It doesn't necessarily equate to reduced funding of the agency. Plus, with the roll out of NATRF2022 pending a number of people who may have postponed retirement now see that the time is right.
So @norman-oklahoma how many decades have you worked for the Government? Twoscore? A fistful? Pray tell, since you seem to be far more aware than myself of what's happening at NGS.
Once you share more of your opinion, I will share some more facts.
So @norman-oklahoma how many decades have you worked for the Government? Twoscore? A fistful? Pray tell, since you seem to be far more aware than myself of what's happening at NGS.
Once you share more of your opinion, I will share some more facts.
@bluebook1807 I heard a rumour that NATRF2022 might not be rolling out at all in US with new directives given. Any truth to that?
You seem to be inside the belly of the beast. Please share any facts that you have. Without facts, I can only speculate.
BTW, this August I reach 5 years in government service after 30 years on the private side. When I signed on their were plans to add 5 positions to our 25 person department. Instead we have lost 9 people, of which only 4 have been replaced. We have been warned of further reductions in force in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
@jacob-wall There have not been discussions or plans to halt the rollouit of NATRF2022 or NAPGD2022, as of now that is only rumor. But the way things are going I could see that happening, and that would just be sad. Do I think they will be released on the schedule that has been publicized recently in the Federal Register? Nope. There's not enough employees left to maintain the progress toward the new datums while also taking on the additional duties that have been left open by so many employees departing.
@norman-oklahoma Sounds like you might be with the BLM. I do think that the cadastral offices will not fall victim to cuts as drastic as mamy other agencies. That is just speculation based on personal communications. But if your fiscal year starts in July, that must be elsewhere then?
In the terminating of probationary employees there were 10 employees booted from NGS.
Then 9 people left via the Deferred Resignation Program.
Total of 19 are departing under the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority or the Voluintary Separation Incentive Payments program.
There's been hardly any time for long time employees to transfer or share their knowledge.
Throughout this tumult there have been other departures also, including nigh the entire OPUS Projects development team.
There's plans to upgrade OPUS static soon, but it will end up that customers have to wait longer after their data is collected to be able to get results. I still don't understand why that is, ephemeris availability or server workflow changes I presume. Nor do I understand why anyone at NGS is placing any priority on adding Glonass processing into OPUS because the results tend to be sloppier statistics.
A recent Office of Management and Budget or OMB memo that has details of the NOAA budget plans was leaked. It calls for a 50.2% reduction in the budget of the National Ocean Service or NOS. That is not a finalized decision, but that memo is like Step 2 in a 4-5 Step process. Since NGS is a Program Office of NOS, which is a Line Office of NOAA, it seems highly likely that equates to a serious budget reduction for NGS. I just don't see how there is an escape from that, when you talk about a >50% reduction for NOS, when NGS and OCS or Office of Coast Survey tend to make up almost half the NOS budget.
Interesting that just 10 days ago Mike Horton was recently testifying before the House Committee on Agriculture about Geodnet. If you don't know Geodnet, I am by no means saying it or Mike is bad or negative, it's just that this occasion is factual and seems relevant.
It's my interpretation, when combining the facts above, that adding these things together stinks of the goal being privatization of the NGS mission. I hope I am wrong.
NGA has full hiring freeze in place right now, as does most Federal outfits. No external hiring at NGA and very difficult to move between Agencies and even internal moves. I would expect all Federal agencies to have at least a 25% overall reduction in everything
It's my interpretation, when combining the facts above, that adding these things together stinks of the goal being privatization of the NGS mission. I hope I am wrong.
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PLS - MO, AR, KS, CO, MN, KY