NASA’s JPL Lays Off 550 Employees

Center director Dave Gallagher says the move is not related to the ongoing government shutdown.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 05:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California continues to downsize following two rounds of layoffs in 2024. [Courtesy: NASA/JPL-Caltech]

Key Takeaways:

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is laying off 550 employees, or 11% of its workforce, as part of a "reorganization" to create a leaner infrastructure and ensure future success, though its director states it's unrelated to the ongoing government shutdown.
These JPL layoffs are the first major reduction in force at NASA since the shutdown began, occurring amidst broader federal directives from the White House Office of Management and Budget for agencies to plan workforce cuts.
The workforce reductions coincide with a proposed FY26 White House budget that seeks a 24% cut to NASA's overall funding (nearly 50% for science programs) and a one-third reduction in its workforce, raising concerns about critical missions and scientific leadership.

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NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) on Monday announced that it will lay off about 550 employees, or about 11 percent of its workforce.

According to JPL director Dave Gallagher, the move has nothing to do with the ongoing government shutdown, which the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has pledged to use as an opportunity to permanently thin the federal workforce.