NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab Lays Off 550 Employees in Reorganization

The institution’s director said the layoffs are not related to the ongoing government shutdown.

A NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is seen in La Cañada Flintridge as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region in Los Angeles on Jan. 14, 2025. Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is laying off hundreds more employees as the prestigious research and development center moves to create a “leaner infrastructure” and cut costs with a tightened budget.

JPL announced on Oct. 13 that approximately 550 positions, accounting for about 11 percent of its total workforce, will be eliminated. The cuts involve staff across technical, business, and support divisions.