In April 2020, the Tor Project, a nonprofit focused on privacy software, was forced to lay off 13 employees due to the severe financial impact of the COVID-19 crisis. This reduction brought its team down to a core of 22 people, meaning approximately 37% of its workforce was cut. The organization stated these difficult steps were necessary to ensure its survival and its continued ability to provide the Tor Browser and critical censorship circumvention services. Despite the layoffs, Tor reaffirmed its dedication to its mission, emphasizing the growing urgency for privacy and secure online access during the global pandemic.