81 jobs in Palestine at risk pending NASA decision

PALESTINE — Eighty-one jobs are at risk at Peraton’s Palestine balloon operation center due to the impending expiration of its contract with NASA according to our news partner KETK.

Peraton’s contract with NASA for balloon operations at the NASA Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine is set to expire on Sept. 30. If the company does not receive a contract extension or a re-award by that date, or within 14 days thereafter, it may be forced to lay off a significant portion of its workforce. The potential layoffs and their timing are based on current information, which is subject to change. Any developments, such as a contract extension or adjustments in government or operational needs, could alter the timeline or scale of the layoffs.

“Depending on government and operational requirements, layoffs in connection with the ending of the contract may come in stages, depending upon the need for workers as Peraton moves toward conclusion of operations under the contract,” the company stated.

“Peraton is working diligently to retain our contract with the government and to preclude the occurrence of any layoff action,” the company added. Employees will continue to be updated as more information becomes available regarding their employment status and the future of the contract.

In 2022, Peraton announced that NASA had continued operations in Palestine, which was worth up to $339.1 million over seven years. Peraton employees had supported NASA’s operations for more than five years, and through this partnership, they have “achieved an exceptional record of mission success by exceeding requirements.”

According to a NASA 2026 budget technical supplement released on Tuesday, cuts are being made to the NASA Astrophysics Research program to align with President Donald Trump’s Budget Request for 2026.