NASA’s research and development lab, JPL, managed by Caltech, is reducing its workforce due to a lower budget from NASA and a lack of FY24 appropriation from Congress. The layoffs will affect approximately 530 employees, about 8% of the workforce, and around 40 contractors. The cuts will occur across both technical and support areas. JPL Director Laurie Leshin announced the decision, stating it was necessary to adhere to the budget allocation while continuing their work for NASA. The budget constraints are partly due to a 63% decrease in funding for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) project.
JPL’s Budget Constraints and Workforce Reduction
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a research and development lab federally funded by NASA and managed by Caltech, has announced a significant reduction in its workforce due to budget constraints. The decision, made in the absence of an FY24 appropriation from Congress, will affect approximately 530 employees, or about 8% of the workforce, and an additional 40 members of the contractor workforce. The cuts will be implemented across both technical and support areas of the lab. This move is seen as a necessary adjustment to adhere to the lab’s budget allocation while continuing its important work for NASA and the nation.
Factors Leading to Workforce Reduction
The decision to reduce the workforce was not made lightly. The lab has been grappling with a lower budget from NASA and the absence of an FY24 appropriation from Congress. Despite implementing a hiring freeze, reducing contracts, and making cuts to budgets across the lab, these measures were not sufficient to sustain the lab through the remainder of the fiscal year. The lab was directed by NASA to plan for a Mars Sample Return (MSR) budget of $300M, a 63% decrease over the FY23 level. This budget constraint, coupled with the absence of an appropriation, necessitated the workforce reduction.
Impact on the Lab and Future Plans
The workforce reduction will affect both technical and support areas of the lab and across different organizations. Despite these cuts, the lab aims to maintain a level of expertise, creativity, technical agility, and innovation that will enable it to continue to deliver on its current missions, including the Mars Sample Return. The decisions made and the path forward are based on the lab’s assessment of future mission needs and work requirements across the lab.
Process and Support for Impacted Employees
The lab has outlined a process to minimize stress for the affected employees. The details of the workforce reductions will be communicated in a single day, and the lab aims to provide personalized support to the impacted employees as quickly as possible. Impacted employees will continue to receive their base pay and benefits through their 60-day notice period, and if eligible, will be offered a severance package as outlined in Caltech’s severance policy, transitional benefits including placement services, and other benefits resource information.
Message from JPL Director
In a memo to the employees, JPL Director Laurie Leshin expressed her gratitude for the exceptional contributions made by the employees who will be leaving the lab. She acknowledged that this is the hardest action she has had to take since becoming Director of JPL and assured that the lab will continue to move ahead on its essential missions, research, and technology work for NASA and the nation.
