The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is set to lay off 530 employees and 40 contractors due to a lack of funding for the 2024 fiscal year, as stated in an internal memo.
Dr. Laurie Leshin, in the letter to employees on Tuesday, mentioned the necessity to take significant steps to reduce spending due to the absence of an FY24 appropriation or the final word from Congress on the Mars Sample Return (MSR) budget allocation.
The planned layoffs will affect 8% of the total workforce at JPL.
The memo stated that most JPL employees were required to work from home on Wednesday, and during this “mandatory remote work day,” access to the JPL Lab in Pasadena would not be available for most workers.
Following a virtual workforce update meeting on Wednesday morning, employees would be informed via email whether they are impacted by the layoffs. Dr. Leshin added that access to JPL systems will be terminated for laid off workers shortly after the notification.
Dr. Leshin expressed that this action is the most challenging decision she has had to make as Director of JPL, and acknowledged the desire for it not to be necessary.
Impacted employees are set to receive their base pay and benefits throughout their 60-day notice period.
