California's Jet Propulsion Laboratory braces for layoffs as federal budget battle drags on

"Employees at California's Jet Propulsion Laboratory are bracing for layoffs as the U.S. government heads into its second week of a shutdown linked to a stalled budget agreement. The storied research and development center in La Cañada-Flintridge is known for its work on robotic space exploration, including Mars Rovers and deep-space probes, as well as its cutting-edge satellite networks that monitor Earth. It is funded by NASA and managed by the California Institute of Technology."

"Agency officials confirmed that layoffs are imminent this month, but declined to provide an exact number of affected employees. JPL currently employs about 5,500 people after undergoing affecting 855 people last year. The agency watchdog website NASAwatch.com reported that layoffs would be as high as 4,000, but sources rejected that, with Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) telling the Los Angeles Daily News the number is "vastly incorrect.""

"No employees at JPL have been furloughed because of the shutdown, since they are CalTech employees and not employees of the federal government. But JPL lives and dies by the budget. In May, the Trump administration proposed a massive $6-billion cut from NASA's $24.8-billion budget, or roughly 24%. The cuts heavily targeted planetary, astrophysics and Earth-observation missions that would affe"

Employees at California's Jet Propulsion Laboratory are bracing for layoffs as the U.S. government enters a shutdown tied to a stalled budget agreement. The laboratory in La Cañada-Flintridge develops robotic space exploration missions and satellite systems, and is funded by NASA and managed by the California Institute of Technology. Agency officials confirmed layoffs are imminent but declined to quantify affected employees; JPL currently employs about 5,500 people following reductions last year. NASAwatch reported up to 4,000 layoffs, a figure that sources and Representative Judy Chu called "vastly incorrect." JPL stated the 4,000 figure lacked attribution. No JPL employees have been furloughed because they are Caltech employees. Proposed federal budget cuts have targeted planetary, astrophysics, and Earth-observation missions.

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