Boeing to cut fewer moon rocket jobs after ‘daily’ NASA talks

Boeing Co. managed to preserve half of the 400 jobs it previously considered eliminating at its moon-rocket program following talks with NASA, potentially pointing to greater certainty over future funding despite concerns over a potential shake-up by Donald Trump.

Boeing is “working hard to finalize contract actions” that directly impact its work, Space Launch System Vice President and Program Manager David Dutcher told employees in an email on Wednesday that was seen by Bloomberg. Dutcher said the company will issue 60-day layoff notices to fewer than 200 teammates.

The partial retraction of the surprise job cuts come as the industry braces for a leadership change at NASA under President Trump and close adviser Elon Musk, the SpaceX chief who’s been given unprecedented oversight power. Musk — and Trump’s NASA chief nominee Jared Isaacman — have both been critical of Boeing’s rocket and NASA’s Artemis moon program. Meanwhile, Congress is responsible for appropriating funding for the rocket in the next federal budget.

“I know this is a stressful time,” Dutcher told employees. “But just as NASA is unwavering in its commitment to the Artemis program, so too are we unwavering in our commitment to NASA and the Artemis campaign.”

Boeing is committed to supporting NASA’s Artemis missions, a Boeing spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Workforce adjustments are still necessary to drive efficiency and cost effectiveness, the statement added. 

In his message to workers, Dutcher said various aspects of the rocket’s production for the Artemis II mission — slated for April 2026 — are well underway.

The Artemis program was officially formed under Trump’s first administration, after he signed a policy directive to send humans back to the moon for the first time since the Apollo program ended more than a half century ago. The program has faced cost overruns, technical problems and a complicated mission plan, though it supports thousands of jobs across the US.

In November 2022, the SLS rocket made its launch debut after more than a decade of development, sending an uncrewed capsule around the moon as part of the first major test flight for the Artemis campaign. 

The rocket has come under repeated criticism for its delays and ballooning budget, which is expected to cost as much as $23.8 billion through 2025.