Industry Report US lab cuts and trade tariffs:
A growing threat to science and industry Jacqueline Balian, GAMBICA,
jacqueline.balian@
gambica.org.uk
Amidst all the spectacle surrounding Donald Trump’s return to offi ce, two key issues have emerged with signifi cant consequences for laboratories and their suppliers. The fi rst major issue is the widespread layoffs currently taking place within the US laboratory sector. Reports indicate that a quarter of the workforce in nearly fi ve dozen US laboratories engaged in efforts to address the latest avian infl uenza outbreak have been laid off. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which employs around 12,000 individuals, has dismissed 1,300 staff members. These 1,300 employees constitute approximately 45% of all ‘probationary’ workers at the CDC. While many of those affected are new recruits, some had recently been promoted and had therefore occupied their current roles for less than a year.
Among those made redundant are employees from the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), a programme established in 1951 to train public health professionals in identifying and responding to disease outbreaks. The loss of personnel in this critical department raises concerns about the ability of the US to respond effectively to emerging public health threats.
Cuts have also affected the US National Animal Health Laboratory Network, which is responsible for managing data and ensuring consistency in laboratory efforts to monitor animal disease outbreaks. The impact of these reductions is expected to be immediate, according to Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
“They’re the front line of surveillance for the entire outbreak,” Poulsen stated. “They’re already struggling with staffi ng shortages, so if you remove all the probationary staff, you eliminate the capacity to do the work.”
Another signifi cant casualty of recent federal policies is the closure of the Livermore Lab’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) offi ce, as part of a broader crackdown on DEI initiatives. Responding to a congressional inquiry about the impact of the federal restrictions, the facility’s director, Kimberly Budil, noted that numerous laboratories had responded by shutting down their DEI offi ces, laying off or reassigning staff, and implementing structural changes to comply with the new federal mandates. However, Budil warned of the wider implications of dismantling DEI policies in collaborative research environments:
“The critical importance of bringing together a broad range of ideas, backgrounds, and experiences is really how we drive excellence in our laboratories, so we remain strongly committed to upholding that focus on excellence.”
These reductions in US laboratory operations will undoubtedly infl uence scientifi c progress and public health, but their impact on local economies is equally signifi cant. Laboratories contribute heavily to local economic growth, as illustrated by the 2024 economic impact report from Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. The report revealed that, in addition to paying $1.96 billion in salaries to its local workforce, the laboratory spent over $1 billion with New Mexico businesses and contributed $138 million in state gross receipts tax. With an annual budget of $5.24 billion, Los Alamos National Laboratory remains a crucial driver of economic activity in the region.
“Los Alamos National Laboratory plays a critical role in sustaining the economic viability of surrounding New Mexico communities,” stated Laboratory Director Thom Mason. “Every year, we expand to meet the demands of our national security mission, and in doing so, the local economy grows alongside us.”
The laboratory’s 2024 DEI report highlighted that of its 16,547 employees, 28.7% hold at least one degree from a New Mexico college or university, while 39.2% are native New Mexicans. Furthermore, the facility actively supports local business growth through mentorship and technological collaboration. In 2024 alone, laboratory- supported initiatives:
• Conducted 182 projects with 212 New Mexico small businesses • Secured $14.1 million in new fi nancing
• Created or retained 371 non-laboratory jobs with a combined salary total of $4.8 million
Tesla Science Centre at Wardenclyffe in Shoreham which has been awarded a $500,000 grant. Photo courtesy
www.teslasciencecenter.org.
Los Alamos National Laboratory is one of the largest employers in the state of New Mexico. Picture Copyright Triad National Security, LLC
However, while many laboratories are struggling, others appear to be faring better. One institution whose recent funding may remain intact is the Tesla Science Centre, which has been awarded a $500,000 grant from New York State Parks to aid in restoring its laboratory facilities following a fi re. The funding will contribute to the preservation and transformation of Nikola Tesla’s only surviving laboratory into
LABMATE UK & IRELAND - MARCH 2025
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