JOHNSTOWN, Pa. --


Efforts to save the National Drug Intelligence Center have failed.

6 News has confirmed that the Department of Justice is closing down the entire operation in Johnstown, eliminating about 180 jobs. NDIC employees were informed of the decision Thursday morning.

Congressional sources tell us the Department of Justice has offered to cover relocation costs for some employees and pledged to help others find employment in other federal offices.

In November, Congress voted to shut down the facility claiming it will save taxpayers $34 million. NDIC employees knew this day was coming, but held out hoped that some jobs could be saved.

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.


Critz said: "Make no mistake about it, the decision to close NDIC was forced by House Republicans when they gave us only two options: 1) zero money and the immediate closure at the end of last year, or 2) $20 million with requirements to close the Center in 2012. I voted for the second option because $20 million kept NDIC alive and afforded us the opportunity to try and work with the Administration to save some jobs in Johnstown. Unfortunately, after months of attempting to work with Justice Department officials, the decision was made earlier this week by the Department to forgo keeping any future operations in Johnstown. This decision was both misguided and wrong. We will continue to work with employees impacted by this decision to assist them in finding jobs both within the Johnstown community and elsewhere."