The decision will affect approximately 8% of the agency’s laboratory workforce, including approximately 40 additional contract personnel, and will impact both JPL’s technical and support units.
In a message to employees, JPL Director Lori Leshin said the cuts were painful but necessary to meet budget constraints while protecting important work for NASA and the nation.
The absence of an approved federal budget and a final congressional action on the Mars Sample Return (MSR) budget has forced JPL to take significant steps to reduce costs, including laying off employees and further reducing contractors.
The measures come after NASA previously directed JPL to target the MSR budget at $300 million, a 63% decrease from fiscal 2023.
Leshin expressed his gratitude to the outgoing staff for their contributions to JPL’s mission and community, emphasizing that their talents will leave an indelible mark on the laboratory’s history.
Source: Ferra
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