Blue Origin, the space company owned by Jeff Bezos, is cutting around 10% of its workforce, impacting roughly 1,000 employees.
The company, which currently has over 10,000 workers, announced the layoffs as part of a broader effort to streamline operations, according to Bloomberg.
In an internal email obtained by The Verge, Blue Origin CEO David Limp acknowledged that rapid expansion had led to unnecessary bureaucracy, affecting the company’s efficiency. To refocus on key priorities, the company is reducing management layers and cutting jobs across engineering, project management, and research and development. “Our organization needs to evolve to better align with our core mission,” Limp wrote.
Despite the layoffs, Blue Origin remains ambitious about its future. Last month, the company successfully launched its New Glenn rocket, a direct competitor to SpaceX, designed to transport satellites and cargo to space. Limp also reaffirmed plans for a Moon landing in 2025 and an increased frequency of New Glenn and New Shepard missions.
“I remain extremely confident in the opportunities ahead and more optimistic than ever about our mission,” Limp assured employees. He added that while some positions are being cut, the company will continue to hire in key areas to drive innovation and better serve its customers.
