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Washington, D.C. – Earlier today, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory announced the layoff of 535 employees as part of its workforce restructuring plan.
In reaction, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-11) issued the following statement.
“While layoffs from the lab restructuring were always a possibility, it doesn’t make the fact that they’re happening any easier to take. My heart goes out to the employees who are losing their jobs. If there’s anything I or my office can do, I encourage them to get in contact with me.
“Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has a long tradition of innovation in the public interest, from early developments in nuclear weapons safety and performance to more recent work in hydrogen fuel storage technology.
“As the lab transitioned to a public/private management partnership, efforts have been made to cut operating costs, which has led to today’s layoff announcement. This is the second round of layoffs and comes on the heels of a voluntary buyout. With all these measures, the total number of lab employees to depart is approximately 900, nearly an eighth of the lab’s workforce.
“These layoffs will have serious consequences for all of us. Simply put, the announcement could threaten the lab’s ability to continue some of its pioneering research. This is particularly important given the amount of investment in critical national security and renewable energy studies at Livermore Lab.
“I have met and talked with officials from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, NNSA and the Department of Energy about this issue. Moving forward, I will continue the fight for funding to prevent future job loss, ensure the compensation available to employees is enough to attract and retain top talent, and see that Livermore Lab can continue its critically important work.”
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