Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will lay off more people Tuesday as NASA’s research and development lab looks to create a “leaner instructure” and reduce costs amid financial challenges.
JPL announced Monday that about 550 jobs will be eliminated as workers will be notified of their employment status Tuesday. JPL Director Dave Gallagher said those who work in technical, business and support sectors will be impacted.
Gallagher emphasized in a statement the latest job cuts are not related to the current government shutdown.
“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,” he said.
Last year, JPL eliminated more than 850 jobs in two waves of layoffs, first in February 2024 then in November 2024.
Some of the job cuts from 2024 centered around uncertainty surrounding the Mars Sample Return mission, which aimed to bring back rock and soil samples from Mars to Earth for detailed examination.
But the Trump administration’s proposed budget for 2026 included the elimination of funding for the Mars Sample Return, saying the mission is “grossly over budget.”