News reports indicate that 484 'civil servant' employees at the center were offered a buyout, or early retirement, if they were to leave before May 30. The buyouts can amount to as much as $25,000, however there are several categories of employees who are currently not eligible: employees who have recently received recruitment or relocation bonuses, temporary employees, or those who would be eligible for disability retirement. Of those choosing to take a buyout some can remain on until June 30 if their specific duties demand it. According to info at web site NASA Ames has a $600 million annual budget.
The company creates products and technologies to aid space and aeronautic missions. Research done at the facility covers areas such as supercomputing and astrobiology.
The research center's space missions include LCROSS, which will look for water on the moon, and Kepler, which is designed to search for planets beyond our solar system. Kepler took flight in March, and LCROSS will launch later this year.