Blue Origin Lays Off 10% Amid Strategic Shift

Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, is laying off approximately 10% of its workforce, which equates to around 1,000 employees. These layoffs affect engineering, research and development, and management roles and are part of a strategic shift to increase efficiency and focus on scaling its manufacturing and launch operations, particularly for the New Glenn rocket. The decision follows a period of rapid expansion that CEO Dave Limp claims led to increased bureaucracy and a loss of focus. The company recently achieved a milestone with the first successful launch of the New Glenn rocket, yet faces intense competition from SpaceX in the private space industry. Despite the layoffs, Limp expressed confidence in Blue Origin's future endeavors, which include expanding its operations and increasing its launch cadence to remain competitive.