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Washington D.C. — In a letter to the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), two senior members of the House have expressed what they described as their “shock” at revelations the agency plans to cut 196 microbiologists, chemists and engineers—some 37 percent of the laboratory analysts in its Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA)—in a proposed consolidation of its ORA labs nationwide.

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), chairman of its Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee, said they found the proposed cuts to be “deeply disturbing.”

The discovery of the FDA plan came as the House committee staff reviewed documents provided by the agency concerning its proposed closure of seven of 13 labs across the country. The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), which represents some 5,200 FDA employees, has been leading the fight to block the planned closings. NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley welcomed the continuing congressional concern with the proposal.

Reps. Dingell and Stupak, who have been vocal in their opposition to the closings, said in a letter to FDA Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach that while they are “concerned with many aspects of the laboratory closure plan, we are particularly troubled with the plan to drastically cut the number of laboratory analysts” spelled in an FDA document dated last Dec. 11.

“This drastic cut comes at a time when the volume of food imports doubles every five years,” they wrote, “and at a time when the American public appears to be exposed to an increasing amount of unsafe, contaminated food.” They added: “This slashing of analysts comes after an already 24 percent reduction in lab analysts between 2003 and 2007. To say the least, these numbers are deeply disturbing.”

They told the FDA commissioner they want data on FDA analyzes now being done that would be able to be conducted because of the proposed reductions; the types of inspections the FDA currently performs that involve taking samples that wouldn’t be done in the future if this plan is implemented; and “all records” reflecting the plans, budget analyses and contracts intended to replicate the work currently performed by the 196 analysts you plan to eliminate from the agency.”

Other members of Congress, in both the House and Senate, have expressed to the FDA their concerns over the possible lab closings.

President Kelley has been sharply critical of what she has described as a budget-driven plan that will put public health and safety at risk.

She has emphasized FDA’s continuing failure to produce any meaningful evidence that larger laboratories are more efficient or effective than medium-sized facilities—and she has warned repeatedly of the likely loss to the agency of highly-skilled professionals who most likely would take private sector jobs rather than leave their communities.

“The risks inherent in the agency’s proposal to close the labs not only are very great, they should be clear and obvious to FDA leadership,” she said.

NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing more than 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.