NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Cuts Another 5 Percent of Workforce

For the second time this year, JPL is reducing headcount to contend with a tight budget.

Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 12:36 PM ET

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NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in 2024 has reduced headcount by about 13 percent, or 855 employees, as it navigates a tight budget. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) laid off 325 employees, its second round of cuts this year, bringing the total personnel reduction in 2024 to approximately 13% of its workforce.
These layoffs are a direct result of budget constraints and the need to align with NASA's fiscal year 2025 allocation.
JPL's workforce reductions are part of broader budget challenges impacting NASA, which have already led to program cancellations (e.g., Viper lunar rover) and may affect others, though JPL leadership expects this to be the last layoff for the foreseeable future.

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For the second time this year, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)—the division of the space agency known for building spacecraft like the Martian rovers Curiosity and Perseverance—is laying off hundreds of employees.

In a statement to employees, JPL said it cut 325 employees, or about 5 percent of its workforce, across almost all areas of the laboratory, including technical, project, business, and support teams. The layoffs, which JPL said are necessary to stick to its fiscal year 2025 budget allocation, follow a headcount reduction of 530 employees in February. The lab has now cut about 13 percent of its personnel in 2024.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.