Federal scientists tasked with monitoring West Coast fisheries’ health are now undertaking janitorial duties and reassessing critical experiments due to the Department of Commerce’s failure to renew their lab’s contracts for hazardous waste disposal, janitorial services, IT, and building maintenance.
At the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, waste accumulation is increasing, as reported by staff members to ProPublica. Employees, including ecologists, chemists, and biologists at the Montlake Laboratory, the center’s headquarters in Seattle, are managing cleanup duties themselves and contemplating a structured schedule for toilet cleaning.
These scientists are involved in genetic sampling of endangered salmon to evaluate the species’ stock status and survival. Their work often involves chemicals that pose risks such as skin burns, spontaneous combustion, and cancer. A delay in hazardous waste removal has prompted concerns about postponing essential research.
The issues at Montlake are attributed to a Commerce Department policy requiring Secretary Howard Lutnick’s personal approval for contracts exceeding $100,000. This stipulation has reportedly caused operational disruptions at numerous NOAA facilities, as mentioned in an NPR report.
In conversations with ProPublica, three Montlake employees shared their experience with lapsing service contracts. They described a range of inconveniences, from sourcing compost bags to determining restroom cleaning duties, as well as difficulty maintaining cleanliness without access to vacuums or mops. Some have taken to purchasing their own cleaning supplies.
Remote work is not an option, as the Trump administration has increasingly mandated federal workers to return full-time to office facilities, a policy set to apply to Montlake by April 21.
One Montlake researcher reported unsafe and unsanitary working conditions, exacerbated by active laboratory environments that include fire-reactive chemicals and bacteria. Requests for comment from NOAA, the Commerce Department, and the White House went unanswered.
Employees at Montlake were recently informed that a safety services contract, essential for moving laboratory waste to disposal sites, would lapse after April 9, leaving just one employee to manage this responsibility. A recent email warned of potential delays in hazardous waste removal.
As of Wednesday, the expiration of the building maintenance contract has depleted the workforce responsible for plumbing, HVAC, and elevator services. The loss of contracts in March left the Seattle lab without janitorial staff and with limited IT support.
In a recent staff meeting, Montlake leaders had no updates on the contract renewals but acknowledged the added burden of janitorial duties on the staff.
Nick Tolimieri, union representative for Montlake employees, characterized the situation as part of a broad effort to pressure federal workers. He noted growing frustration due to “petty” contractual lapses.
The Montlake center’s challenges reflect broader disruptions affecting federal employees under the Trump administration, including layoffs and contract cancellations. On a recent incident, hundreds of NOAA employees faced repeated terminations.
According to Tolimieri, management had prepared new service contracts well in advance, but delays at headquarters are preventing timely support for computer repairs and building maintenance. Montlake’s aging elevators frequently malfunction, prompting jokes about their sporadic functionality.
The fisheries center employs over 350 individuals, most based at Montlake, with others distributed across research stations in Oregon and Washington.
Staff at the center provide critical research and advisory services on sustainable fishing and endangered species, including Puget Sound orcas. They ensure seafood safety following oil spills and contribute to salmon population restoration and regional agriculture.
NOAA’s research is typically neutral, according to a Montlake researcher concerned about hazardous waste disposal, emphasizing their focus on weather reports and seafood quality.
Lab workers, although trained in basic safety, face limitations on chemical waste storage onsite. Departed contractors were specialized in managing large chemical spills and toxic exposure emergencies.
Without a return of these experts, the lab might need to postpone essential research, involving chemical testing of Alaskan sea lions, killer whales, and walruses for environmental contaminants.
Tolimieri criticized the administration’s downsizing efforts, arguing their actions contradicted claims of prioritizing efficiency.
