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 it will lay off approximately 550 employees, or 11% of its workforce, as part of a center "reorganization" to establish a leaner infrastructure and ensure future success.
JPL director Dave Gallagher stated the layoffs are unrelated to the ongoing government shutdown, though they are the first major reduction in force at NASA since the shutdown began and follow broader federal directives for workforce reduction.
These cuts at JPL foreshadow potential widespread reductions across NASA, as the proposed FY26 budget includes a 24% overall cut to the agency and nearly 50% for science programs, raising concerns about the loss of expertise and impact on vital 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.