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) announced the layoff of about 550 employees (11% of its workforce) as part of a "reorganization" aimed at creating a leaner infrastructure for future success.
JPL leadership stated these layoffs are separate from the ongoing government shutdown, yet they coincide with a broader federal initiative to reduce the federal workforce through potential agency-wide reductions.
These are the first major reductions in force at NASA since the shutdown began, occurring amidst White House budget proposals that include significant cuts to NASA's funding, workforce, and critical missions.

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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.