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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) said on Feb. 6, 2024, that it planned to eliminate about 530 employee positions—roughly 8% of its workforce—and about 40 contractor positions. JPL attributed the decision to budget constraints, including uncertainty over its fiscal year 2024 appropriation and the amount allocated for Mars Sample Return (MSR). In November 2024, it announced a separate reduction affecting about 325 employees.
Why did JPL announce layoffs in February 2024?
JPL cited the absence of a fiscal year 2024 appropriation and an unresolved budget allocation for the Mars Sample Return mission. In a Feb. 6, 2024, employee memo, JPL Director Laurie Leshin said NASA had directed the laboratory to plan for $300 million for MSR in FY24, a 63% decrease from FY23. The amount and comparison were stated in that memo; they describe the plan at that time, not the mission’s current funding.
JPL said it had already frozen hiring, reduced MSR contracts, and cut laboratory burden budgets, but those measures were not enough to meet its budget allocation. The laboratory described the workforce reductions as “painful but necessary adjustments that will enable us to adhere to our budget allocation while continuing our important work for NASA and our nation.” That was the wording of JPL’s Feb. 6 statement, reproduced by NASA.
How many people did the February announcement affect?
JPL’s Feb. 6 announcement said the planned reduction would affect approximately 530 employees, about 8% of its workforce, as well as approximately 40 members of the contractor workforce. JPL described the February reductions as spanning technical and support areas.
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The contractor figure was reported separately from the employee figure. The announcement does not establish that these categories use the same employment definitions as figures in JPL’s later announcement.
How were employees notified, and what support did JPL describe?
Leshin’s memo outlined a notification plan for Feb. 7, 2024. Employees were to work remotely while virtual organizational meetings took place, followed by individual email notices to affected employees.
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The memo said affected employees would retain base pay and benefits during a 60-day notice period. Severance and transition assistance were subject to eligibility and applicable policy; the memo did not say that every affected employee would receive identical support.
How was the November 2024 reduction different?
On Nov. 12, 2024, JPL announced a distinct workforce action tied to its FY25 budget allocation. It said approximately 325 employees, about 5% of its workforce, would be affected across technical, business, and support areas. Leshin’s accompanying memo said JPL expected to have approximately 5,500 regular employees after that action. That was an expected post-action staffing level, not a verified current headcount.
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| Announcement | Stated budget rationale | Employee impact | Contractors | Notification details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 6, 2024; FY24 | No FY24 appropriation and unresolved MSR allocation; JPL said it was directed to plan for $300 million for MSR, 63% below FY23. Source: JPL’s Feb. 6, 2024 announcement and memo. | Approximately 530 employees, about 8% of the workforce. Source: JPL’s Feb. 6, 2024 announcement. | Approximately 40 contractor workforce members were also included in the announcement. Source: JPL’s Feb. 6, 2024 announcement. | Remote work and virtual organizational meetings were planned for Feb. 7, followed by individual email notifications. Source: Leshin’s Feb. 6, 2024 memo. |
| Nov. 12, 2024; FY25 | JPL tied the action to its FY25 budget allocation. Source: JPL’s Nov. 12, 2024 announcement. | Approximately 325 employees, about 5% of the workforce. Source: JPL’s Nov. 12, 2024 announcement. | No equivalent contractor count was stated in the cited announcement. | No equivalent notification schedule was stated in the cited announcement. |
These were two separate actions announced on different dates and tied to different fiscal-year budget circumstances. Their published figures should not be treated as a single current workforce total: the contractor count appears only in the February announcement, and the sources do not establish later staffing changes or JPL’s present workforce position.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What these announcements do—and do not—establish
The NASA-hosted announcements and employee memos document what JPL said in February and November 2024. They explain the stated budget rationale, the planned scale of each reduction, and some details of the February notification process. They do not establish subsequent appropriations, later workforce actions, current staffing, or the present funding status of Mars Sample Return.
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