USDA Scientists Investigated by Foreign Researchers
- The Trump administration is directing employees at the U.S.Department of agriculture to investigate foreign scientists who collaborate with the agency on research papers for evidence of "subversive or...
- The new directive,part of a broader effort to increase scrutiny of research done with foreign partners,asks workers in the agency's research arm to use Google to check the...
- At a meeting last month, USDA supervisors pushed back against the instructions, with one calling it "dystopic" and others expressing shock and confusion, according to an audio recording...
The Trump administration is directing employees at the U.S.Department of agriculture to investigate foreign scientists who collaborate with the agency on research papers for evidence of “subversive or criminal activity.”
The new directive,part of a broader effort to increase scrutiny of research done with foreign partners,asks workers in the agency’s research arm to use Google to check the backgrounds of all foreign nationals collaborating with its scientists.The names of flagged scientists are being sent to national security experts at the agency, according to records reviewed by ProPublica.
At a meeting last month, USDA supervisors pushed back against the instructions, with one calling it “dystopic” and others expressing shock and confusion, according to an audio recording reviewed by ProPublica.
The USDA frequently collaborates with scientists based at universities in the U.S. and abroad. Some agency workers told ProPublica they were uncomfortable with the new requirement becuase they felt it could put those scientists in the crosshairs of the administration. Students and postdocs are especially vulnerable as many are in the U.S.on temporary visas and green cards, the employees said.
Jennifer Jones, director for the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, called the directive a “throwback to McCarthyism” that could encourage scientists to avoid working with the “best and brightest” researchers from around the world.
“Asking scientists to spy on and report on their fellow co-authors” is a “classic hallmark of authoritarianism,” Jones said. The Union of Concerned Scientists is an association that advocates for scientific integrity.
Jones, who hadn’t heard of the instructions until contacted by ProPublica, said she had never witnessed policies so extreme during prior administrations or in her former career as an academic scientist.
The new policy applies to pending scientific publications co-authored by employees in the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service,which conducts research on crop yields,invasive species,plant genetics and other agricultural issues.
The USDA instructed employees to stop agency researchers from collaborating on or publishing papers with scientists from “countries of concern,” including China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela.
But the agency is also vetting scientists from nations not considered “countries of concern” before deciding weather USDA researchers can publish papers with them.Employees are including the names of foreign co-authors from nations such as Canada and Germany on lists shared with the department’s Office of Homeland Security, according to records reviewed by ProPublica. That office leads the USDA’s security initiatives and includes a division that works with federal intelligence agencies. The records don’t say what the office plans to do with the lists of names.
Asked about the changes, the USDA sent a statement noting that in his first term, President Donald Trump signed a memorandum designed to strengthen protections of U.S.-funded research across the federal government against foreign government interference. “USDA under the Biden
Changes to how the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approaches collaboration with international researchers are predicted to hinder scientific innovation and knowledge exchange, according to experts like Caroline Wagner, a researcher specializing in international science and technology collaboration.
United states Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Table of Contents
the USDA is the federal department responsible for the development and execution of federal laws related to food, agriculture, forestry, and rural communities. Its mission includes supporting agricultural research, education, and extension services. Recent policy shifts within the USDA regarding international research partnerships have drawn criticism.
Recent Changes to International Research Collaboration
Details regarding the specific changes to USDA’s approach to international research collaboration are not fully public, but concerns center around increased restrictions and scrutiny of foreign researchers and partnerships. Thes changes reportedly aim to protect U.S. intellectual property and national security, but critics argue they are overly broad and will stifle scientific progress. As of January 18, 2026, the USDA has not released a comprehensive public statement detailing the full scope of these changes, but Reuters reported in February 2024 that the USDA was tightening rules for foreign researchers.
Caroline Wagner
caroline Wagner is a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, specializing in the study of international collaboration in science and technology.
Wagner’s Concerns About Reduced Innovation
Wagner, who has over 25 years of experience researching international scientific collaboration, believes the USDA’s changes will negatively impact the quality and pace of scientific finding. She argues that international collaboration is crucial for generating novel ideas and accelerating knowledge transfer.
Wagner stated that these changes “will certainly reduce the novelty, the innovative nature of science and decrease these flows of knowledge that have been extremely productive for science over the last years.” This assessment is based on her extensive research demonstrating the positive correlation between international collaboration and scientific breakthroughs.
Impact on Scientific Advancement
International collaboration in agricultural research is vital for addressing global challenges such as food security, climate change, and emerging plant and animal diseases.
Benefits of International Research Collaboration
Collaborative research allows scientists to pool resources, share expertise, and access diverse perspectives, leading to more robust and impactful findings. Such as, the development of disease-resistant crop varieties often relies on genetic resources and expertise from multiple countries. A 2020 study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that internationally co-authored papers receive more citations and have a greater impact than those authored solely by researchers within a single country.
Restricting these collaborations could slow down progress in critical areas of agricultural research and hinder the United States’ ability to compete globally in scientific innovation.