JPL Announces Layoffs Due to Budget Cuts and Lack of Congressional Appropriation
In a recent statement issued by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) on February 6, 2024, it was announced that the organization would be forced to lay off employees due to budget cuts and the absence of an FY24 appropriation from Congress. The decision comes after exhausting all other measures to adjust to a lower budget from NASA. JPL Director Laurie Leshin sent a memo to employees, expressing the difficulty of the decision and the impact it would have on the workforce.
The layoffs are expected to affect approximately 530 JPL colleagues, which accounts for about 8% of the workforce. Additionally, around 40 members of the contractor workforce will also be affected. The impacts will be felt across both technical and support areas of the Lab. While these adjustments are painful, they are deemed necessary to adhere to the budget allocation while continuing the important work for NASA and the nation.
The root cause of these layoffs can be traced back to the absence of an approved federal budget that includes a final allocation for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) budget. NASA had previously directed JPL to plan for an MSR budget of $300M, which represents a significant decrease from the FY23 level. In response to this direction, JPL implemented various cost-cutting measures, including a hiring freeze, reduced MSR contracts, and cuts to burden budgets across the Lab. Despite these efforts, the organization still found itself unable to sustain operations without further action.
To adjust to the lower budget levels, JPL must streamline its operations while maintaining expertise, creativity, technical agility, and innovation. The workforce reduction will impact both technical and support areas of the Lab, as well as different organizations within JPL. The goal is to continue delivering on current missions, including MSR, while ensuring that the necessary work requirements are met.
The details of the workforce reductions will be communicated to employees in a single day, providing clarity and allowing for personal arrangements to be made. JPL is prioritizing minimizing stress by quickly notifying everyone whether they are impacted or not. Following this notification, personalized support will be provided to impacted colleagues, including discussions about benefits and other forms of assistance.
To facilitate the communication process, most employees will be directed to work from home on February 7. Virtual workforce update meetings will be held by JPL leadership with their respective teams, where they will reiterate the details of the layoffs and provide insight into the impact within their organizations. Importantly, no specifics about individual employees will be shared during these meetings.
After the virtual workforce update meetings, each employee will receive an email notifying them whether they are impacted by the layoff or not. Impacted employees will receive personalized information electronically and will have the opportunity to schedule discussions with trained professionals to review their benefits and transitional support options. Throughout the 60-day notice period, impacted employees will continue to receive their base pay and benefits.
For employees who are not impacted by the layoffs, resources will be made available to address any questions or concerns they may have. Leaders and managers will meet with their teams to provide support and reinforce access to additional resources. A Town Hall meeting will also be scheduled in the near future to share more information about the path forward and offer a space for discussion.
In her memo, JPL Director Laurie Leshin expressed her gratitude for the contributions of the colleagues who will be leaving the organization. She acknowledged the lasting mark they have made on JPL and assured them that they will always be a part of the Lab’s story. Leshin also expressed her hope that JPL will come through this difficult time and continue moving ahead on essential missions, research, and technology work for NASA and the nation.
While these layoffs are undoubtedly challenging for JPL and its employees, the organization remains committed to its mission and the important work it does for NASA. With a focus on streamlining operations and maintaining expertise, JPL aims to navigate through this difficult period and continue making significant contributions to space exploration and scientific discovery.
