Boeing has informed employees working on the Space Launch System program that up to 400 jobs could be at risk due to potential revisions to the Artemis program and cost expectations. The company has announced preparations for cutting these positions, citing “revisions” as the reason.
According to a Boeing spokesperson, the potential job cuts would require 60-day notices of involuntary layoff, which must be issued in accordance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. However, NASA officials have stated that they are not revising the Artemis program and plan to proceed with preparations for the Artemis 2 mission.
Elon Musk, SpaceX’s CEO, has expressed criticism towards the current approach, calling it “inefficient” and stating that a new approach is needed. Boeing’s Space Launch System has faced criticism since its inception due to high costs and low flight rates.
The potential cancellation of SLS could face opposition from Congress, as seen in 2010 when the Obama administration sought to cancel the Constellation program leading to its development. Some lawmakers, including Rep. Dale Strong, have expressed support for the program, citing concerns about the impact on NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
Source: https://spacenews.com/boeing-warns-sls-employees-of-potential-layoffs