The U.S. Department of Agriculture is now directing employees to investigate foreign scientists collaborating on research for evidence of “subversive or criminal activity.” The directive, stemming from a broader effort to increase scrutiny of foreign partnerships, requires agency staff to use internet searches to vet the backgrounds of all international collaborators.
Increased Scrutiny of International Research
The new policy applies to pending scientific publications from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, which focuses on areas like crop yields and plant genetics. USDA employees have been instructed to halt collaboration and publication with scientists from “countries of concern,” specifically naming China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela. However, vetting extends beyond these nations, with names of co-authors from countries like Canada and Germany being submitted to the department’s Office of Homeland Security.
Internal concerns about the directive have surfaced. An audio recording of a recent USDA meeting reveals supervisors expressed “shock and confusion,” with one describing the instructions as “dystopic.” Employees have also voiced discomfort, fearing the policy could jeopardize the positions of foreign scientists, particularly students and postdocs on temporary visas.
Echoes of Past Concerns
The USDA maintains the changes are in line with a 2019 presidential memorandum aimed at protecting U.S.-funded research from foreign interference. However, critics argue the current approach is overly broad. Jennifer Jones, director for the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, labeled the directive a “throwback to McCarthyism” and a “classic hallmark of authoritarianism,” warning it could discourage collaboration with leading international researchers.
The USDA’s July memo, authored by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, asserts that “foreign competitors benefit from USDA-funded projects” and that preventing this is the responsibility of every USDA employee. The memo also calls for scrutinizing arrangements with foreign researchers and prohibiting participation in foreign recruitment programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted this new USDA policy?
The USDA states the policy is an implementation of a 2019 presidential memorandum designed to strengthen protections of U.S.-funded research against foreign government interference. The agency also asserts that the Biden Administration had previously failed to implement this directive.
What are “countries of concern” as defined by the USDA?
According to the directive, “countries of concern” include China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela. However, the USDA is also vetting scientists from nations not on this list.
What happens to the names of foreign scientists flagged by USDA employees?
The names of flagged scientists are sent to the USDA’s Office of Homeland Security, which leads the agency’s security initiatives and works with federal intelligence agencies. The records do not specify what actions the office will take with this information.
As the USDA continues to implement these changes, it remains to be seen how this increased scrutiny will impact ongoing research and future international collaborations. Will this policy lead to a more secure research environment, or will it ultimately hinder scientific advancement?
