The Golden renewable energy lab formerly known as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory laid off an additional 134 employees across both research and operations Monday, further shrinking the renowned center under changing Trump administration priorities.
The big losses followed the slashing of 114 staff and contracting positions at the renamed National Laboratory of the Rockies in May. Employees, conservation groups and Colorado’s Congressional delegation have condemned the severe cuts to the renewables lab as a misguided American retreat on technology that could be key to the nation’s economic future and slowing global climate change.
“Today, the National Laboratory of the Rockies implemented workforce actions affecting 134 employees across the laboratory, including roles in both research and operations. These actions were taken to adjust to existing and projected funding levels and alignment with (Department of Energy) priorities,” spokesperson David Glickson said in an emailed statement. “We recognize the meaningful contributions of those impacted and the role they have played in advancing the laboratory’s work.”
“We appreciate their meaningful contributions to the laboratory. NREL’s mission continues to be critical to achieve an affordable and secure energy future,” the statement said.
Employees affected by the cuts have been reluctant to speak on the record while they await severance packages or struggle to hear about colleagues. Those who did speak said the lab is losing both promising young employees and many scientists or experts with decades of experience. They believe no other labs are doing the same level of work NREL used to do, and that other nations the U.S. had equalled or surpassed will now pick up the lead.
The successive rounds of layoffs have hit hard at what used to be a total of 3,675 employees listed on the NREL website at the beginning of 2025. President Trump’s fiscal 2026 budget pitched $19.3 billion in cuts to the Department of Energy’s allotted 2025 spending, according to the website utilitydive.com.
The White House budget request went out of its way to ridicule renewable energy research and subsidies promoted heavily by the Biden and Obama administrations: “The Budget cancels over $15 billion in Green New Scam funds committed to build unreliable renewable energy, removing carbon dioxide from the air, and other costly technologies burdensome to ratepayers and consumers,” the budget proposal said.
The cuts are part of an openly stated reversal of renewable energy support in favor of bolstering traditional fossil fuel industries like coal-fired power plants and oil and gas drilling. The Trump administration, for example, has paved the way for coal-fired power plants in Colorado and other states to stay open long past scheduled closing dates.