Blue Origin Layoffs: Rocket Company Cuts 10% of Workforce for Efficiency
Blue Origin, the space exploration company founded by Jeff Bezos, has announced plans to reduce its workforce by 10%. The move comes after the successful debut of the company's New Glenn rocket last month.
CEO Dave Limp informed employees of the layoffs via email on Thursday, with official notifications sent out on Friday. Limp described the decision as "tough" but necessary due to the company's rapid growth in recent years.
"With that growth came more bureaucracy and less focus than we needed," Limp stated in the message to staff.
The layoffs are intended to expedite manufacturing and launch capabilities. Blue Origin, headquartered in Kent, Washington, operates from launch sites in Florida and Texas for its New Glenn and New Shepard rockets, respectively.
Like its primary rival SpaceX, Blue Origin has contracts with NASA for lunar missions involving astronaut landings. The exact number of employees affected by the layoffs remains to be determined, as the privately-held company does not release employment figures.