Is JPL laying off employees?
PASADENA, CA – Today, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a NASA Center administered by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), announced the reduction of its workforce by 550 employees, or approximately 11% of its total staff. This is the third round of layoffs at JPL in the past two years. Rep. The California Institute of Technology operates JPL on behalf of NASA, and JPL staff are Caltech employees rather than federal civil servants. Most NASA employees have been furloughed since the 2026 fiscal year began Oct.JPL is run by contractors working for Cal Tech. When the government shuts down, JPL keeps going, at least for a while. The deep space network that communicates with all (most? NASA’s spacecraft that aren’t Earth orbiters, is run by JPL.NASA has shed 4,000 employees since Trump took office in January, or about 20% of its workforce, primarily through the governmentwide offer for employees to take months of paid leave before exiting the federal service. It also oversaw a small reduction in force of a couple dozen staff.
Are JPL employees NASA employees?
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is operated by California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). JPLers are Caltech employees and are considered Federal Contractors. JPL is NASA’s Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) operated by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).JPL is run by contractors working for Cal Tech. When the government shuts down, JPL keeps going, at least for a while. The deep space network that communicates with all (most? NASA’s spacecraft that aren’t Earth orbiters, is run by JPL.The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a special research and development center. It is owned by NASA and managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). JPL is located in Pasadena, California, United States. JPL’s main job is to build and operate robotic spacecraft that explore other planets.
What happened at JPL?
NASA’s JPL cuts 550 jobs in latest round of layoffs at La Cañada Flintridge facility. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, part of NASA, laid off 550 employees, or about 11% of its staff. Morale has tanked amid reports of management problems. Staffing at JPL has gone from around 6,500 employees in early 2024 to around 4,500 following this week’s layoffs. That is a reduction of more than 30 percent that Kampmeier says leaves a gaping hole in America’s space mission.