National Drug Intelliegence Center Closure means less intell!

The Department of Justice is closing down the entire operation in Johnstown, eliminating about 180 jobs. NDIC employees were informed of the decision in February 2012 

The decision occurred in November, Congress voted to shut down the facility claiming it will save taxpayers $34 million. U.S. Rep. Mark Critz, who represents Pennsylvania's 12th district, said, "Unfortunately, after months of attempting to work with Justice Department officials, the decision was made .. .to forgo keeping any future operations in Johnstown. This decision was both misguided and wrong."

The late U.S. Rep. John Murtha was influential in bringing NDIC to Johnstown in 1993, but in recent years many lawmakers in Washington fought to close NDIC calling it a drain on the federal budget.

U.S. Rep. Mark Critz and U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey and Bob Casey also fought to keep some components of the NDIC operation in Johnstown. In a joint statement the lawmakers wrote:

"The Obama Administration's decision to close Johnstown's National Drug Intelligence Center is 100 percent wrong," Casey said. "The NDIC has played a crucial role in fighting drug trafficking and gang violence in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation. Closing the facility will hurt jobs and the economy throughout the region in addition to hampering the efforts of local law enforcement. In the coming weeks and months, I will be working closely with Sen. Toomey and Congressman Critz to help the workers impacted by the closure."

Sen. Toomey said: "It is extremely disappointing that the Obama administration has decided to shut down the National Drug Intelligence Center in Johnstown. As I have repeatedly told Justice Department officials, the NDIC serves an essential function and maintaining its operations in Johnstown is better for taxpayers than relocating those operations elsewhere. Among other reasons, it is also why I voted against the appropriations bill last November that enabled this administration to wind down the NDIC. This decision is a significant blow to the Johnstown area, and I am committed to working with my congressional colleagues and other officials to help those impacted by this closure.

The information that was generated, including intelligence reports, both with security clearances and declassified were invaluable to law enforcement officers all across the United States. Its closure will result in a whol in the intelligence information that is currently distributed to the law enforcement community.