JPL on Monday, Oct. 6, confirmed that a number of layoffs coming this month will once again hit the venerable science hub that straddles Pasadena and La Cañada Flintridge.

The federal space and earth exploration and research agency did not answer how many employees would be laid off in this next round. However, JPL rebuffed recent online suggestions that they would be in the thousands.

A local watcher of the agency had reported on the website nasawatch.com that he had heard reports from talking to distressed JPL employees that there could be between 3,000 and 4,000 dismissals by Oct. 15. In an email to the blogger, JPL responded:

“The Laboratory has been very transparent in regular updates to employees that some layoffs are expected in October, but the number in your post is vastly inco

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