NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab Laying Off 5% Of Workforce
What Happened?
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a federally funded research and development center managed by the California Institute of Technology for NASA, has announced that it will be laying off 5% of its workforce. This amounts to approximately 200 employees.
Why The Layoffs?
The layoffs are due to a combination of factors, including:
- Decreased funding from NASA
- Increased costs
- A shift in priorities
Decreased Funding From NASA
NASA's budget has been flat for the past several years, and this has led to decreased funding for JPL. In fiscal year 2018, JPL received $1.5 billion from NASA. This is down from $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2017.
Increased Costs
JPL's costs have been increasing in recent years. This is due to a number of factors, including:
- The rising cost of labor
- The increasing complexity of JPL's missions
- The need for new equipment
A Shift In Priorities
NASA's priorities have been shifting in recent years. The agency is now focused on missions to Mars and the Moon, and this has led to decreased funding for JPL's Earth science missions.
What Does This Mean For JPL?
The layoffs will have a significant impact on JPL. The lab will lose expertise in a number of areas, and this could make it more difficult for JPL to compete for future NASA missions.
What's Next?
JPL is working to mitigate the impact of the layoffs. The lab is offering severance packages to employees who are being laid off, and it is also working to help them find new jobs.
Conclusion
The layoffs at JPL are a reminder of the challenges facing the space industry. NASA's budget is flat, and this is leading to decreased funding for research and development. This is a serious problem, and it could have a negative impact on the future of space exploration.
