A wave of layoffs at a NASA laboratory that carried out historic projects

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), one of NASA 's most prestigious research centers, is once again facing a wave of serious layoffs.

Dave Gallagher, the laboratory's director, announced on October 13 that another 550 employees would be laid off.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT NASA?

In a statement published on the institution's website, Gallagher described this process as "restructuring and staffing":

“We are restructuring and scaling our organization to ensure our future success.”

The new wave of layoffs follows a series of cuts at JPL in recent years. In November 2024, then-Director Laurie Leshin said, “I think we’ve now reached a sustainable staffing level,” following a previous downsizing.

However, Leshin left his position in May 2025 and was replaced by Gallagher, who had been working at the laboratory for many years.

550 MORE PEOPLE ARE LEAVING

Gallagher stated that the current layoffs are part of the restructuring process that began in July 2025, and emphasized that this decision “is not related to the government shutdown” in the US.

He used the following expressions in his statement:

"The decisions this week are not easy, but they are necessary to secure JPL's future. We are taking this step to build a leaner structure, focus on our core technical capabilities, maintain financial discipline, and enhance our competitiveness in the changing space ecosystem."

HE CARRIED OUT ICONIC SPACE PROJECTS

JPL is not technically part of NASA; it is operated by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) but is heavily dependent on NASA funding.

The laboratory has carried out some of the United States' most iconic space projects to date, such as the Voyager space probes and Mars rovers (Curiosity, Perseverance).

Therefore, any contraction in NASA's budget directly impacts JPL.

BAD FOR U.S. LEADERSHIP IN SPACE

The layoffs are not only tragic for workers; they are also seen as a bad sign for U.S. leadership in space.

In the short term, a slowdown in engineering projects could lead to missed launch dates, while in the long term, it risks discouraging young engineers from working at JPL or NASA.

Another negative impact is the decline in morale within the organization. Some existing employees may begin to seek other opportunities due to the lack of stability.

“A BLOW TO SCIENCE”

Garry Hunt, a scientist on the original Voyager mission, told The Register that he was not directly affected by this uncertainty because his JPL career had ended. He added:

"This is a truly worrying time. What the US doesn't understand is that this is weakening not just JPL but science and technology in general. This was an institution that nurtured talented people. But now those people will leave the field."

A JPL employee who spoke to The Register summarized the general atmosphere with these words:

“The general atmosphere here is one of pessimism and hopelessness.”

Hunt also emphasized the potential consequences of delays. The Voyager spacecraft had seized a rare launch opportunity that only occurs once every 175 years for a "grand tour" of the Solar System.

“Missing that mission’s window wasn’t an option,” the scientist said, emphasizing that JPL is well aware of the cost of such delays.