ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KKOB) — While national laboratories across the country brace for sweeping layoffs, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is preparing for a major expansion in its workforce.
During a recent briefing to lawmakers, the head of LANL’s Community Partnerships Office revealed that the lab expects a significant funding boost in the coming year. As a result, between 800 and 1,000 new positions are slated to be filled in 2026 — many to address existing vacancies and retirements, and others to support a pivot toward more technically demanding work as federal priorities evolve.
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As LANL plans for growth, other federal research institutions are scaling back. Budget reductions under the current administration are forcing national labs to cut over 3,000 scientific jobs nationwide. In June, Sandia National Laboratories announced its own workforce reduction, planning to lay off 1 to 3% of its approximately 17,000 employees.
Despite the broader trend, Los Alamos appears poised to buck the downturn by realigning its internal workforce and welcoming new talent into critical roles.
