Things aren’t looking great for NASA these days. The agency, like much of the federal government, is feeling the heat during the early days of a new administration. The atmosphere is tense, and morale is reportedly at an all-time low.

A big part of the unease stems from recent leadership changes. Janet Petro stepped in as interim administrator, surprising many. One of her first moves was to instruct employees to cut ties with diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility contracts and report anyone who didn’t comply. To make matters worse, some staffers received emails from the US Office of Personnel Management that seemed to nudge them toward resigning.

Then there’s Elon Musk, the SpaceX founder who’s been stirring the pot. Last week, he claimed NASA had “stranded” astronauts on the International Space Station—a statement that’s just not true, as the astronauts are safe and have a way home. But his comments added fuel to the fire. Musk’s deep involvement in government operations, especially through SpaceX’s role as a major NASA contractor, has left some employees feeling like they’re working for him, not the agency.

The tension spiked again when Petro announced that Michael Altenhofen, a longtime SpaceX employee, had joined NASA as a senior advisor. Altenhofen is a skilled engineer with plenty of experience, but his hire has raised eyebrows about SpaceX’s influence over NASA’s decisions. Petro hasn’t commented on concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

Insiders say the mood at NASA is “absurdly low.” Meetings between staff and leadership, like a recent all-hands gathering at the Langley Research Center, have been fraught with tension. With so much uncertainty, it’s hard to say what’s next for the space agency.

For now, NASA seems to be in a holding pattern, waiting for stability amid the turbulence. Let’s hope they find their footing soon.