The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced the cancellation of its lease for the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) offices in New York City. This decision, communicated in an April 24 email by Makenzie Lystrup, director of Goddard Space Flight Center, will result in the closure of the GISS offices located in a Columbia University building by May 31.
The email cited ongoing reviews of government leases as the reason for the termination, though further details remain unclear. GISS, a part of Goddard’s Earth science division, has been based in New York since its inception in 1961, strategically positioned near leading universities. Its current location in Armstrong Hall dates back to the late 1960s. The institute, renowned for its climate science research and modeling, is led by Gavin Schmidt.
The lease covered more than 4,000 square meters (43,000 square feet) and cost NASA $3.03 million annually. Despite the lease termination, NASA assures that GISS itself will not be closing. Lystrup stated that the agency will facilitate remote work arrangements while seeking a new permanent location. "And while the lease is ending, the Institute’s mission continues," she added. "The work of the GISS team is considered critical for the Earth Science Division, particularly as the Division looks to the future of its modeling work and capabilities."
However, internal sources express worry about potential budget cuts. A recent Office of Management and Budget proposal suggests slashing NASA’s Earth science budget by over 50%, reducing it to approximately $1 billion in fiscal year 2026. This alarming prospect casts a shadow over the future of GISS and its important contributions to climate research.