NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has announced it will lay off about 550 employees, equivalent to 11% of its workforce, as part of a major restructuring effort.
The decision, unrelated to the current government shutdown, aims to streamline operations, sharpen core technical strengths, and improve fiscal discipline.
JPL Director Dave Gallagher shared in a statement, “This week’s action, while not easy, is essential to securing JPL’s future by creating a leaner infrastructure, focusing on our core technical capabilities, maintaining fiscal discipline, and positioning us to compete in the evolving space ecosystem—all while continuing to deliver on our vital work for NASA and the nation.”
This restructuring, which began in July, affects roles across technical, business, and support areas at the Pasadena, California-based laboratory, managed by the California Institute of Technology. JPL, NASA’s federally funded R&D centre, is renowned for landmark missions like the Mars rovers and the 1958 launch of the US’s first satellite, Explorer 1.
Employees will be notified on Tuesday about their employment status, with the new organisational structure taking effect the following day. Despite the challenges, Gallagher confirmed these measures are crucial for enabling JPL to meet the ambitious demands of future space exploration.
This latest round of layoffs follows previous reductions over the past two years as NASA navigates budget constraints and shifting priorities.