NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory lays off 550 workers

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) announced it will lay off approximately 550 employees, representing about 10% of its staff. This decision, communicated by JPL director Dave Gallagher, is described as a "realignment of its workforce" aimed at creating a leaner infrastructure, focusing on core technical capabilities, maintaining fiscal discipline, and adapting to the evolving space ecosystem. The layoffs will impact positions in technical, business, and support areas, and employees were to be notified of their status. JPL, a research and development center funded by NASA and managed by the California Institute of Technology, is responsible for significant past and present space missions. While the immediate cause is a workforce realignment, the article contextually links these cuts to broader trends within NASA, including funding reductions and ... download the app to read more