Rep. Chu Celebrates Bicameral Agreement Halting Further Mars Sample Return Workforce Reductions, Promises to Continue Fighting for Full Funding

PASADENA, CA — Yesterday, the House of Representatives and Senate Appropriations Committees released an agreement for six separate appropriations bills, including the one for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS). The CJS agreement funds the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its flagship missions, including Mars Sample Return (MSR) led by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Caltech in Pasadena. Unlike the original Senate CJS bill which cast doubt on the importance and viability of MSR and proposed drastic cuts for the program, this bicameral agreement (p. 65) expresses support for MSR as the highest priority of the 2022 Planetary Science Decadal Survey. Further, it notes concern that NASA’s layoffs at JPL and its failure to consult with Congress have contributed to serious losses in its high-skilled workforce, and directs NASA not to engage in further workforce reductions without consultation and until the agency delivers to Congress its recommendations for a revised mission architecture that will ensure the success of the mission, simplify the structure, and reduce the annual costs. Already, NASA has announced the layoffs of 8 percent of the workforce of JPL based on the original Senate CJS bill’s failure to fund MSR.

Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) released the following statement in response to the bicameral agreement:

“I am so relieved and thankful that we made tremendous progress in yesterday’s appropriations agreement between House and Senate leaders, which expresses support for Mars Sample Return as the highest planetary science priority and expresses concern with the layoffs of NASA’s highly-skilled workers. Importantly, the agreement also notes our concern with NASA’s decision to move ahead with layoffs without consulting Congress, and directs them not to do this again. However, the fight isn’t over. I pledge to continue working with my congressional colleagues and the Administration to ensure we fully fund MSR and continue promoting the kinds of scientific discovery JPL has been on the frontlines of for decades. Furthermore, I urge NASA to swiftly apply the new appropriations guidelines so that officials can consider rehiring JPL employees and contractors who were laid off based on an outdated Senate appropriations bill that no longer is being considered by Congress.”

Last month, Rep. Chu expressed extreme disappointment with JPL layoffs announced by NASA.

Also last month, Rep. Chu helped lead a bicameral, bipartisan letter, co-signed by 43 other Members of Congress from California, to Director Shalanda Young of the White House Office of Management and Budget, urging the reversal of devastating budget cuts to the MSR mission.

In November 2023, Rep. Chu helped lead a bicameral, bipartisan letter to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on the same matter.