NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville could have up to 300 less employees soon, as continued budget woes have forced the center to cut back.

Center Director Robert Lightfoot announced the cuts in statement Wednesday following a meeting of all employees and contractors on Tuesday.

“As NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden has said, tough times require tough choices,” Lightfoot said in the statement. “Marshall Center is doing what is necessary to live within our budget and retain the essential capabilities needed to support NASA’s mission.  We know this is a difficult  time for members of our contractor workforce who are being affected by reductions and we intend to assist them in their career transition as much as possible.”

The center estimates the cuts will eliminate 150-300 positions, and all cut will be made before the end of May.
The statement reads: “Due to budget constraints, Marshall Space Flight Center officials have conducted a comprehensive review of all institutional procurement and other expenditures and established funding priorities, ensuring that essential Center functions are maintained and that operational capabilities are in no way  compromised.  However, many institutional services will be reduced and some will be eliminated.  Funding to Center support contractors will be reduced and that will result in reductions to the contractor workforce here, estimated to be between 150 and 300 positions.”

The most recent cuts add to the jobs that were lost last year when NASA closed the Constellation rocket project at the center.

NASA was forced to cut $300 million from line items in the general budget that funds all centers.