[APWG] Open Comment Period for Proposed closure of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Prince George’s County, MD: Comment until August 31, 2025

[Krone, Elizabeth C]

The US Department of Agriculture announced a reorganization that proposes the closure of BARC, the Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. BARC is part of the USDA's Agricultural Research Service that includes research conducted by the US National Arboretum<https://www.usna.usda.gov/> and efforts by the Plant Exchange Office to safeguard wild plants that are useful to agriculture. BARC also leads the team that supports GRIN-Global<https://www.grin-global.org/> and GRIN-Taxonomy<https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch>, two important databases that manage USDA plant collection information that serves all of the National Plant Germplasm System.<https://www.ars-grin.gov/Collections>

There is an open comment period until August 31, 2025 (extended from August 26), with guidance indicating that:
“all stakeholders, including USDA employees, members of Congress, and agricultural and nutrition partners, are encouraged to provide feedback by emailing reorganization at usda.gov<mailto:reorganization at usda.gov>.”

The reorganization was not announced via the Federal Register. You may contact the USDA Secretary's Office by using this form https://www.usda.gov/contactsecretary or by phone at 202-456-1111.

You can find more information using the links below:

--Link to press release of reorganization: https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/07/24/secretary-rollins-announces-usda-reorganization-restoring-departments-core-mission-supporting
--Link to press release of the comment period: https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/08/01/usda-opens-public-comment-period-department-reorganization-plan
--Overview article in Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-farm-agency-plan-close-flagship-research-site-threatens-critical-research-2025-08-21/
--Link to C-SPAN video of the Honorable Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden testifying at a Senate Hearing on July 30, 2025

Beltsville Agricultural Research Center: USDA ARS: https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/beltsville-md-barc/beltsville-agricultural-research-center/

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