The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena laid off about 550 employees, or 11% of its total staff, on Tuesday.
The layoff spanned technical, business and support areas. This is the third round of layoffs in the past two years.
JPL Director Dave Gallagher said in a statement the layoffs are part of a reorganization that started in July — and are not part of 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,” Gallagher said.
California Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) said in a statement she is “extremely disappointed” by the layoffs.
“These layoffs are an absolute tragedy, especially as they come at a time when our community is still recovering from the Eaton Fire that destroyed thousands of homes and disrupted so many lives and livelihoods just nine months ago,” Chu said. “They also come on the heels of two devastating rounds of layoffs last year of over 850 JPL employees.”
The first round of layoffs happened in February 2024 when JPL laid off more than 500 workers. The second round of layoffs happened in November 2024 when 325 employees were laid off.
In January, when the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena and destroyed more than 6,000 homes, former JPL Director Laurie Leshin said more than 200 employees had been impacted by the wildfire.
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