Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena will lay off about 550 employees beginning Tuesday as it continues a restructuring of its workforce, adding to more than 800 jobs that were slashed at the space lab last year, the agency’s director announced Monday.

“In order to best position JPL going forward, we are taking steps to restructure and establish an appropriate size to ensure future success,” JPL Director Dave Gallagher said in a message to the staff on Monday. “As part of this effort, JPL is undergoing a realignment of its workforce, including a reduction in staff.”

Gallagher insisted the cuts are part of an ongoing reorganization effort, and they were not tied to the current federal government shutdown. He said the cuts will involve workers in “technical, business and support areas,” a

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