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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
<span style="color: blue;"><a style="color: blue;" title="Original URL: https://www.usna.usda.gov/. Click or tap if you trust this link." class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA5e70bb79-60dd-4dad-4668-18fd0ec109b8" target="_blank" href="https://www.usna.usda.gov/">US National
Arboretum</a></span> and efforts by the Plant Exchange Office to safeguard wild plants that are useful to agriculture. BARC also leads the team that supports
<span style="color: blue;"><a style="color: blue;" title="Original URL: https://www.grin-global.org/. Click or tap if you trust this link." class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA60611940-f729-20a9-11d7-c9162234c1a8" target="_blank" href="https://www.grin-global.org/">GRIN-Global</a></span> and
<span style="color: blue;"><a style="color: blue;" title="Original URL: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch. Click or tap if you trust this link." class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA3b66b349-044a-0ded-c15e-21fe03539b06" target="_blank" href="https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch">GRIN-Taxonomy</a></span>,
two important databases that manage USDA plant collection information that serves all of the
<span style="color: blue;"><a style="color: blue;" title="Original URL: https://www.ars-grin.gov/Collections. Click or tap if you trust this link." class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA55f21ee0-31f7-1b5a-d386-f531b9985537" target="_blank" href="https://www.ars-grin.gov/Collections">National
Plant Germplasm System.</a></span> </div>
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There is an open comment period until August 31, 2025 (extended from August 26), with guidance indicating that:</div>
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<b>“all stakeholders, including USDA employees, members of Congress, and agricultural and nutrition partners, are encouraged to provide feedback by emailing
</b><span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><b><u><a style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);" title="mailto:reorganization@usda.gov" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA9e7b704f-62c5-4449-54eb-78c35d82df73" href="mailto:reorganization@usda.gov">reorganization@usda.gov</a></u></b></span><b>.” </b></div>
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The reorganization was not announced via the Federal Register. You may contact the USDA Secretary's Office by using this form
<span style="color: blue;"><a style="color: blue;" title="Original URL: https://www.usda.gov/contactsecretary. Click or tap if you trust this link." class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA424ad1f1-8dad-e9c8-e155-0c4e8c289ff9" target="_blank" href="https://www.usda.gov/contactsecretary">https://www.usda.gov/contactsecretary</a></span> or
by phone at 202-456-1111. </div>
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You can find more information using the links below:</div>
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--Link to press release of reorganization: <span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
<u><a style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);" title="Original URL: https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/07/24/secretary-rollins-announces-usda-reorganization-restoring-departments-core-mission-supporting. Click or tap if you trust this link." class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA5a6fe65f-23bf-cfca-1b5b-95a96ccacac7" target="_blank" href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/07/24/secretary-rollins-announces-usda-reorganization-restoring-departments-core-mission-supporting">https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/07/24/secretary-rollins-announces-usda-reorganization-restoring-departments-core-mission-supporting</a></u></span></div>
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--Link to press release of the comment period: <span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
<u><a style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);" title="Original URL: https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/08/01/usda-opens-public-comment-period-department-reorganization-plan. Click or tap if you trust this link." class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA7b7c6dc2-6251-01ae-b24f-83ada524c399" target="_blank" href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/08/01/usda-opens-public-comment-period-department-reorganization-plan">https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/08/01/usda-opens-public-comment-period-department-reorganization-plan</a></u></span></div>
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--Overview article in Reuters <span style="color: blue;"><a style="color: blue;" title="Original URL: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-farm-agency-plan-close-flagship-research-site-threatens-critical-research-2025-08-21/. Click or tap if you trust this link." class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA2b936ae4-df67-9719-0e96-bc5b1d20bc3b" target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-farm-agency-plan-close-flagship-research-site-threatens-critical-research-2025-08-21/">https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-farm-agency-plan-close-flagship-research-site-threatens-critical-research-2025-08-21/</a></span></div>
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--Link to C-SPAN video of the Honorable Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden testifying at a Senate Hearing on July 30, 2025</div>
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Beltsville Agricultural Research Center: USDA ARS: https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/beltsville-md-barc/beltsville-agricultural-research-center/</div>
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