NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in southern California is conducting another round of layoffs. The decision has affected approximately 325 employees, or about five per cent of its workforce.
The layoffs will impact various technical, business and support areas, and come in response to funding shortfalls. This move follows a similar round of cuts earlier this year, where 530 employees and 40 contractors were laid off due to a reduction in funding for NASA’s Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission.
Despite the cuts, JPL’s leadership emphasised the need to streamline operations while continuing critical work for NASA. The lab is adjusting to lower budgets and tightening its operations.
JPL, which manages key NASA projects such as the Perseverance and Curiosity Mars rovers, is tightening its budget in light of lower funding and upcoming work projections. The MSR mission, which aimed to bring Mars samples back to Earth, was reviewed for cost concerns, with its estimated price tag ranging from $8 billion to $11 billion, leading to a re-evaluation of the entire project.
Despite the layoffs, JPL’s director, Laurie Leshin, stated that the lab is aiming to stabilise staffing levels at around 5,500 employees. The lab is hopeful that no further layoffs will be necessary in the near future, given its current budget and planned activities.
