NASA has decided to end its lease for the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City, a move tied to President Donald Trump’s broader review of federal property leases. The GISS, a key player in global climate research, will have to vacate its location in a Columbia University-owned building by May 31. The change will not halt its operations, as the agency plans to transition the institute’s work to a virtual setup while searching for new office spaces.
GISS, established in 1961, has long been a hub for climate research, managing one of the world’s five major independent temperature records. In a bid to maintain continuity, NASA officials assured employees that their work would continue uninterrupted, despite the logistical shift. Over the coming months, staff will be placed on temporary remote work arrangements as NASA assesses future office locations.
The change has raised concerns among the institute’s employees. Gavin Schmidt, the director of GISS, met with NASA officials to discuss how the transition would affect ongoing research. Despite these concerns, Makenzie Lystrup, the center director for NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, reassured the team that the GISS mission would remain vital for the Earth Science Division, especially regarding future modeling and climate work.
The Goddard Institute’s lease, managed by the General Services Administration, costs approximately $3 million annually. The building it occupies, Armstrong Hall, is also famous for housing Tom’s Restaurant, known for its appearance in the 1990s TV show Seinfeld. Despite the change, NASA remains committed to supporting GISS’s crucial climate research.
