ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The DOE’s FY2019 Congressional Budget Request calls for “a three-year ramp-down in NNSA (National Nuclear Security Administration) support for the University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics, including the aged Omega Laser Facility.”

The lab was established in 1970 as a center to investigate the technology. U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the operation not only employs 340 high-tech engineers and scientists, but is also in part responsible for the safety, security and reliability of the nation’s nuclear weapon arsenal.

“Turning out the lights on Rochester’s Laser Lab is a horrible plan,” he said. “Simply put, I will do everything possible to prevent the administration’s wrongheaded effort to cut funding for Rochester University’s laser lab, which is why in the Senate I’m championing an effort to increase federal funding so the lab can double down on their national security work and energy discovery in partnership with our national labs especially with competition from counties like China and Russia working to beat the U.S.”

“The federal government should be doing more, not less, to put the Laser Lab to work for our nation’s energy and national security research needs,” Schumer continued. “The more the Laser Lab can continue to grow jobs and spin-off companies in Rochester.”

Rochester Democratic Rep. Louise Slaughter was also highly critical of the proposal. She said the lab is a prime example of the region’s leadership in the scientific research sector.

“This is yet another example of the Trump administration’s political attacks on science,” she said. “I lead the effort to get this funded every year and have already started reaching out to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fight this devastating cut.”

The director of the laboratory said it is working actively with congressional leadership to reverse a decision “that was not discussed” with them before the announcement. He said he will be in Washington, D.C. Tuesday.