Further JPL Layoffs Amid Continued NASA Uncertainty

On October 13th, JPL announced that it will lay off roughly 550 employees—about 11 percent of its workforce—in what Lab Director Dave Gallagher described as a “reorganization” effort to “secure JPL’s future” through leaner operations and refocused priorities.

The layoffs, affecting staff across technical, business, and support divisions, mark JPL’s fourth major reduction in the past two years, following cuts that eliminated more than 850 positions in 2024. Gallagher emphasized that the move was unrelated to the ongoing federal shutdown, though it comes amid sweeping budget and workforce reductions proposed by the White House, which include a 24 percent cut to NASA’s overall funding.

Representative Judy Chu (D–Calif.), whose district includes JPL, called the layoffs an “absolute tragedy,” warning of an “untold loss of scientific knowledge and expertise.”

In a message to the Caltech community, President Thomas Rosenbaum expressed “deep appreciation” for JPL’s staff and affirmed that the Institute is “doing everything possible to support affected employees.”

With key missions like Mars Sample Return and Europa Clipper potentially facing reduced funding, the latest cuts underline a period of profound uncertainty for the nation’s leading center for robotic space exploration.