JPL 'Open House' Cut Amid Budget Dilemma

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE (CNS) - The Jet Propulsion Laboratory has canceled its popular annual open house at its La Canada Flintridge facility because of federal spending cuts mandated by sequestration, it was reported Monday.

The event, scheduled for June 8-9, typically attracts crowds of more than 15,000 each day, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"Everyone here is just horribly disappointed," JPL spokeswoman Veronica McGregor told the newspaper. "This is an event we look forward to each year and

JPL has been reviewing its public outreach efforts amid pressure from NASA to cut costs to cope with federal spending reductions, according to The Times.

Casey Dreier, advocacy and outreach specialist at the Planetary Society, the Pasadena-based space exploration advocacy group, told The Times that he was "very disappointed" with the decision.

"It's one of the most productive and effective and inspiring things JPL does for the community," he said.

Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-Burbank, said the cancellation is the result of "extremely poor fiscal policy -- sequestration'' -- and undermines "one of NASA's most important earthly missions: education."