September 19, 2017

AGU sends letter regarding workforce cuts at DOE

Posted by Timia Crisp

Last week, in response to reports† indicating that the Department of Energy (DOE) has approved plans to reduce the workforce at national laboratories, specifically Oak Ridge and Brookhaven National Laboratories, in accordance with the President’s budget, AGU sent a letter to DOE Secretary Rick Perry urging him to reconsider making such drastic workforce cuts unless directed to by Congress, which has the final say on federal spending.

AGU let Secretary Perry know that our nation’s science and innovation programs depend on a trained technical workforce, and that the loss of scientific and technical expertise at DOE will harm programs that are essential to the economy, our communities, and national security.

As the budget process works its way through Congress, and as DOE and other agencies make decisions related to science, AGU will continue to serve our members and the broader science community by monitoring the situation and updating you as concerns emerge. 

And, of course, we will remain steadfast in our objective of informing decision-makers about the value of science and the role of scientists in safeguarding our nation from today’s challenges.

 

† “Oak Ridge National Laboratory Plans to Cut up to 350 Jobs” U.S. News (available at www.usnews.com/news/best-states/tennessee/articles/2017-08-08/oak-ridge-national-laboratory-plans-to-cut-up-to-350-jobs) 8 August 2017; Marshall, Christa “National labs to cut more than 500 jobs” E&E News (available at www.eenews.net/stories/1060058591) 9 August 2017