Federal scientists at the Montlake Laboratory, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), are facing deteriorating working conditions after the Department of Commerce failed to renew multiple service contracts. A new policy requiring personal approval for all contracts over $100,000 by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has disrupted essential services like hazardous waste disposal, janitorial services, IT, and building maintenance, as well as a contract for experts who handled emergencies like chemical spills or toxic exposures.
Researchers at Montlake, the headquarters of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, have been performing their own maintenance and janitorial services, including cleaning toilets and removing trash. The staff regularly works with chemicals that can burn skin, cause cancer, and erupt into flames, and while they are trained to safely handle the chemicals, there is a limit to how much chemical waste can remain on site. According to one scientist, the lab will be forced to delay critical research if hazardous waste removal services are not restored.
Update: On April 14, 2025, custodial services were restored at the Montlake Laboratory.