NASA's famed Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena laid off more than 500 employees on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

The job cuts come as part of the institution's efforts to "best position JPL going forward" as it works to "restructure and establish an appropriate size to ensure future success," Director Dave Gallagher said in a written statement . The cuts are affecting about 10% of the workforce at JPL.

"This reduction — part of a reorganization that began in July and not related to the current government shutdown — will affect approximately 550 of our colleagues across technical, business, and support areas," he said.

Affected employees were to be notified on Oct. 14.

Open conversations with employees about the potential of "hard choices ahead" have been taking place for months, Gallagher

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