Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Michael Kappel / flickr)

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory announced the layoffs of 53 employees following an internal message sent to staff this week.

It represents almost 2.5% of its workforce. Fermilab reported about 2,160 employees including scientists and engineers on its website.

“This was a difficult decision to reduce these positions,” said Tracy Marc, media relations manager at Fermilab. “They were thoughtfully assessed and focused on positions, not individuals. It was done as an essential step to align the lab’s workforce with Fermilab’s priorities, mission and future budgets.”

This matches details from a message sent to all employees that was obtained by WTTW News.

“These reductions will occur throughout the laboratory and are independent of the ongoing contract transition,” the message read.

Employees said Director Lia Merminga, who sent the message Tuesday, had assured them in July that all jobs at the particle accelerator laboratory in suburban Batavia were safe.

Fermilab would not confirm this vow, saying only there were no plans for an involuntary reduction in Fiscal Year 2024.

“I feel deeply the impact of this decision on all of us, those who will be departing and those who stay, and want to assure you that this decision was not made lightly,” Merminga wrote. “Change can be painful, but we must drive change to position Fermilab for the future.”

Affected employees were notified of the workforce reduction the day the message was sent, and were informed about potential severance terms, employment services and support.

“At this time, there are no further workforce reductions planned,” Marc said.

Fermilab had public discussions about layoffs of about 200 employees during the George W. Bush administration that were avoided by attrition, furloughs and a large, anonymous cash donation, according to media reports. There were also buyouts offered and possible layoffs involving 100 positions following the shutdown of a particle accelerator in 2011.

This is the latest setback for the lab, which experienced a limited operations period this summer that forced most staff to use vacation time because of budget issues.

A new management group was announced for the Department of Energy national laboratory in October.

The administration of the lab has come under fire recently for issues including massive cost overruns and delays for some of their most ambitious projects.

A whistleblower report released this summer reported incidents of sexual harassment, potential criminal conduct and deeply rooted financial problems as part of the litany of issues at Fermilab.