Funding Shortfall Prompts More Layoffs at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) just announced its third round of layoffs in 2024, due to lower funding.
In the latest round of cuts, JPL laid off 325 employees, or five percent of its workforce, with the reductions announced in a lab-wide virtual meeting on November 13, 2024.
The layoffs occurred across the technical, business, and support areas of the laboratory, which is run by the California Institute of Technology for NASA, as the organization deals with lower funding amounts in its fiscal year (FY) 2025 funding allocation.
“With lower budgets and based on the forecasted work ahead, we had to tighten our belts across the board,” JPL Director Laure Leshin wrote in a memo to employees of the Pasadena, California lab. “These are painful but necessary adjustments that will enable us to adhere to our budget while continuing our important work for NASA and our nation."
In January, JPL laid off 100 on-site contractors. In February, JPL laid off 530 employees and another 40 contractors.
Mars Sample Return Program in Focus
The cuts come due to funding cuts and other issues with the Mars Sample Return program, which is run by JPL. The program collects rocks from Mars and bring them back to earth for research.
NASA directed $310 million this year to the program, down from $822.3 million the previous year.
NASA is now considering proposals from private companies for the program as FY 2025 funding remains in limbo with Congress yet to pass full-year appropriations legislation.
Regardless, Director Leshin believes that the latest cuts have stabilized the workforce.
“I believe this is the last cross-Lab workforce action we will need to take in the foreseeable future,” stated Director Leshin in her memo. “After this action, we will be at about 5,500 JPL regular employees. I believe this is a stable, supportable staffing level moving forward.”
The director noted that the results of the 2024 presidential election did not play a part in the layoffs, which she said, “would be happening regardless of the recent election outcome.”
