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Washington, D.C.—The head of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU)—which represents more than 5,000 employees at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—today commended the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) for calling attention to the “critical gaps” in scientific integrity and lack of resources at the agency.

A UCS recent survey of approximately 1,000 FDA scientists, co-sponsored by the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), highlighted serious concerns about the politicization of science at the FDA, problems with resources and morale, and the negative effects these issues are having on the FDA’s mission of protecting the public and promoting public health.

“That slightly less than half of the FDA scientists surveyed believe the public is being provided with complete and accurate information is cause for serious alarm,” said NTEU National President Colleen M. Kelley. “If even one FDA scientist feels he or she is being pressured to provide incomplete or misleading information to the public, that is one too many.”

“These survey results should lead to efforts by the agency to further insulate these scientists and other FDA employees from political pressure.” President Kelley said.

NTEU has negotiated a clause in its FDA contract that provides for the right of professional differences of opinion and protection for employees who do not concur with supervisors in the course of doing their jobs. Under this clause, employees are not required to concur on any approval documents with which he or she professionally disagrees. “The right to professional dissent is an essential right when dealing with public health and safety issues. More needs to be done to discourage any kind of atmosphere of intimidation,” Kelley said, endorsing the UCS’ call for increased accountability, transparency and protection.

Equally concerning, President Kelley noted, is a finding that two-thirds of FDA scientists believe that the agency does not have sufficient resources to effectively perform its mission. Inadequate staffing and insufficient time to perform work up to standard are common concerns of NTEU FDA members, she said.

“NTEU stands ready to work with FDA to secure the necessary funding to meet the department’s mission and to require a work environment where science takes precedent over politics in every instance,” Kelley stated.

NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing some 150,000 employees in 30 agencies and departments, including more than 5,000 in FDA.