The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is planning to eliminate 130 jobs because of uncertainty about the fiscal 2026 budget, according to an internal document viewed by POLITICO’s E&E News.
The memo sent to staff this month by lab Director Steven Ashby underscores the pressures facing multiple national labs because of potential funding cuts. Last month, lab officials said that more than 3,000 jobs nationally could be cut because of spending reductions this fiscal year.
Due to budget uncertainty, “we are taking proactive steps to streamline operations and prepare for cuts in some programs. Since a decrease in direct funding results in less overhead funding, we are identifying areas where we can be more efficient and reduce overhead costs,” Ashby wrote.
Approximately 40 vacant positions and 90 staffed positions at PNNL in Richland, Washington, would be eliminated, he said.
