Editor's Note: This article has been updated to include a clarification from KBR regarding the actual number of anticipated layoffs. While initial state WARN data listed 758 affected positions, the company anticipates 60 or fewer employees will ultimately be laid off.
KBR Services LLC filed a state notice indicating hundreds of positions could be affected at the Army’s Fort Irwin National Training Center in the Mojave Desert, initially appearing as one of the largest mass layoffs reported in California in recent years. However, a KBR spokesperson clarified that the company anticipates 60 or fewer employees will actually lose their jobs. The cuts affect the frontline technicians and support staff who maintain and move military vehicles and equipment, and stem from a drop in customer work.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, KBR filed a WARN notice with the state on March 6, listing May 6 as the effective layoff date and naming Building 896 on Langford Lake Road at Fort Irwin as the worksite. While the state's public WARN report lists 758 total affected positions—including 482 tactical vehicle mechanics, 42 parts clerks, and 31 technical wheel inspectors—a KBR spokesperson told Hoodline that this broad number reflects positions prior to union "bumping rights." The actual notice sent by the company estimates that only 35 tactical vehicle mechanics, 15 lead mechanics, and 9 warehouse workers will be impacted, noting the final total of represented employees affected is "unknown but anticipate being 60 or less."
Company finances and contract context
As outlined by KBR, the company reported fourth-quarter fiscal‑2025 revenue of $1.9 billion and full‑year revenue of $7.8 billion, while also flagging a slower awards environment. KBR has been a longtime logistics and maintenance provider at Fort Irwin and, in 2024, said it was awarded an estimated $771 million contract to provide logistics and life‑support services for U.S. Army EUCOM and NORTHCOM, according to a company release. CEO Stuart Bradie described fiscal 2025 as “a year of disciplined execution” in the company’s February earnings statement.
What the cuts mean locally
In a region where base contracting is one of the few reliable sources of blue‑collar work, losing dozens of jobs is still a serious economic blow for families and the local businesses that serve them. The San Francisco Chronicle originally placed the KBR notice among the state’s largest recent job losses, alongside Del Monte’s Modesto plant closure and the Educational Testing Service’s layoffs, based on the initial 758 figure. County job‑placement services and retraining programs are expected to play a key role in softening the impact for those who are ultimately let go.
Legal questions under the WARN Act
A class‑action law firm says it is looking at the filing and whether KBR met the 60‑day notice requirement under the WARN Act, according to Strauss Borrelli. Federal and California WARN rules generally require covered employers to provide 60 days’ written notice before a mass layoff, and the state Employment Development Department outlines potential remedies, including back pay and benefits, if employers fall short. State guidance also notes that affected workers are eligible for unemployment insurance and services from local workforce boards while they pursue retraining or new jobs.
Where to go for help
Public layoff trackers that compile EDD notices list the March 6 filing and the May 6 effective date for the Fort Irwin worksite, naming Building 896 on Langford Lake Road as the affected location. WARNact and local job centers provide quick access to phone numbers and enrollment steps for unemployment benefits and retraining programs. This story will be updated if KBR or Army officials release additional comments.
