NASA unit JPL to lay off about 550 workers, citing restructure

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory unit of NASA said Monday that it will lay off about 550 employees — more than 10% of JPL’s workforce — as part of a restructuring.

The job cuts “are not related to the current government shutdown,” JPL Director Dave Gallagher said in a message to the unit’s staff.

“Over the past few months, we have communicated openly with employees about the challenges and hard choices ahead,” Gallagher said.

“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 wrote.

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