Agricultural Research Lab Closings
Gao ID: RCED-95-178R May 26, 1995GAO provided information on laboratory closings and research reductions being undertaken in fiscal years (FY) 1995 and 1996 by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). GAO noted that: (1) ARS is closing 10 laboratories in FY 1995 and proposes closing 12 more laboratories in FY 1996; (2) ARS plans to terminate 28 research programs at 16 other laboratories during FY 1995 and 1996; (3) ARS estimates that these closures and terminations will reduce research costs by about $37.8 million during FY 1995 and 1996; (4) the closings and terminations will not reduce the ARS budget, since these cost savings will be redirected to higher priority research within ARS; and (5) ARS will incur almost $14 million in one-time costs to close the facilities and terminate the research programs.