Keith’s note: To my NASA JPL readers: I am doing my best to report what I learn about what is going on at your workplace. I get calls and texts at all hours of the day 7 days a week that I then have to check out. I am supposed to be retired and yet I spend hours a day on this. Even with contributions this costs me money to operate. If all of you get fired I will not be affected. If you do not like my reporting then get JPL PAO and your management to tell you what is going on instead of expecting me to do it. I hope no one gets fired. Have a nice day. Update: just got this from Veronica McGregor – with my reply. I am starting to think that I may stop covering JPL altogether. No one is talking to one another.
Biologist, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Biologist and Payload integrator, Editor of NASAWatch.com and Astrobiology.com, Lapsed climber, Explorer, Synaesthete, Former Challenger Center board member... More by Keith Cowing
Keith, I appreciate all you do to keep us informed of the good and not good that NASA does. I haven’t worked for JPL in years, but still remember working there fondly, and appreciate the reporting you do about it. If you get burned out and have had enough, it’s very understandable. You should be enjoying your retirement, not the crap you seem to be getting.
I know that the administration is looking at massive layoffs if there is a government shutdown. I suspect JPL would seriously be on the chopping block if the shutdown happens. Especially considering it is in a blue state.
Keith, I appreciate your efforts to pass along information that people provide to you. I am presently employed at JPL. I have found your NASAwatch posts helpful for many years. It is good that you published the letter you received from Veronica McGregor. I don’t think you should take it as an attack on you, only an attempt to provide the management response to the extreme number of 4000 layoffs that someone sent to you. That level of layoffs would mean JPL would basically be closed.
My belief, with no evidence, is that JPL management has been told to come up with an “Armageddon RIF plan” in the event of a government shut down. And that are not saying anything to employees about it, for obvious reasons.
This is surprisingly plausible.
Agreed. I’m a recently retired employee of 25 years. 4000 layoffs would mean the closure of JPL as a NASA Center. Government shutdowns in the past did not necessarily mean stopping work at JPL as long as there were funds remaining in house. An extended shutdown could be a different story.
I feel terrible for my friends and colleagues still there and thankful for you Keith for the coverage. Even though I’m retired NASAWatch is the first page I go to every morning.