On Sept. 25, 2025, the operator of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory laid off 68 employees effective November 18, saying “unforeseen business circumstances” meant it wasn’t able to provide 60-days’ notice.  More than 40 employees receiving notice are based at PNNL’s Richland campus, according to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice sent to the state’s Employment Security Department by Battelle, which operates the lab on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy.  About 25 others work at PNNL sites in Seattle, Oregon or remotely. 

“As a result of funding uncertainties and evolving federal mission priorities, Battelle made great effort to avoid layoffs by reassigning work, reducing work hours and retaining staff on furlough status in the hope that additional funding would be realized,” according to the Battelle letter. “However, Battelle determined it is necessary to restructure our workforce and reduce staff in both research and operations.” 

Affected positions range from those working in IT, software, mechanical and nuclear engineering, as well as roles connected to national security, cybersecurity research, chemistry, earth science and administration. The layoffs are in addition to furloughs and hundreds of staff cut via voluntary and involuntary layoffs since August.  

PNNL began bracing for reductions in early June after the White House’s proposed federal budget included billions of dollars in cuts to three DOE programs with a large presence at the lab. The lab is the largest employer in the Tri-Cities.

Congress has yet to approve a 2026 fiscal year budget for DOE and other federal agencies. A continuing resolution is currently funding the federal government through January 30, 2026.