Gallagher remarked that the choice was challenging, but “crucial for ensuring JPL’s future by establishing a more streamlined infrastructure.” With a workforce that once numbered around 5,500, these latest layoffs signify a 10% decrease in personnel, excluding contractors.
The director of the organization elaborated that the reductions are unrelated to the current government shutdown. Rather, he emphasized that this decision was part of the lab’s reorganization that commenced in July. This transition probably resulted from the financial instability that has been affecting the organization for an extended period. In February 2024, the organization dismissed approximately 530 workers, or roughly 8%, partly because of the lack of a fiscal year 2024 budget from Congress and doubts about the funding for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) project. Before the year concluded, two additional significant layoffs took place, with the lab terminating nearly 1,000 contractors and employees in total last year.
