Overview
- The lab eliminated 134 positions across research and operations, attributing the move to funding constraints, budget uncertainty and alignment with Department of Energy priorities.
- A detailed breakdown of affected units was not provided, with a large share of the reductions expected at the Golden campus where most staff work.
- The action follows at least 114 job cuts in May 2025, bringing confirmed reductions to 248 positions since last year.
- The facility was renamed in December from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to the National Laboratory of the Rockies, with DOE officials saying they are no longer “picking and choosing energy sources.”
- Colorado lawmakers and conservation groups denounced the latest layoffs as part of a broader pivot away from renewable-energy research, noting the White House’s FY2026 proposal to reduce DOE funding and cancel renewable initiatives.