Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
JPL, the Southern California NASA center, is laying off hundreds of employees
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory went through rounds of layoffs last year. Another 550 people are expected to be cut this week.
(
NASA/JPL-Caltech
)
Listen
0:42
JPL announces that hundreds of employees will be laid off Tuesday
Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership has announced that 11% of the lab's workforce will be cut Tuesday. That's about 550 people.
Topline:
Layoff notices began to arrive in Jet Propulsion Laboratory employees' email inboxes Tuesday morning after leadership announced the day before that 11% of the lab's workforce would be cut. That's about 550 people.
We've been here before: There were two rounds of large layoffs at the La Cañada Flintridge-based NASA center in 2024, with roughly 900 people let go.
The justification: The reorganization has been going on since July, JPL Director Dave Gallagher wrote in a post on the lab's website. He said JPL's future depends on "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." The cuts are not related to the government shutdown, he wrote.
Listen
0:42
JPL announces that hundreds of employees will be laid off Tuesday
Where will cuts be focused? The layoffs are expected to affect various departments, though it's unclear which missions may be the hardest hit. The Mars Sample Return mission was affected last year. Without additional funding allocated to the program, those cuts could continue.
Sentiment at JPL: “The JPL that we knew is gone,” said one employee, who has worked at JPL for over 10 years and lamented the repeated layoffs. The engineer also described an ongoing brain drain and a feeling of despondency among the staff. LAist agreed not to name the person, who feared reprisal for speaking publicly.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
