More than 70 foreign researchers have been banned from working with USDA. The move follows an internal security review aimed at keeping foreign adversaries out of U.S. research projects.
The contractors worked under USDA’s research arm, and most were post-doctoral researchers. A union leader for the ag research service told Reuters that the firings took out a lot of talent that will stunt research growth.
USDA says any individuals working for countries of concern will no longer be allowed to work on USDA projects, which includes researchers from countries like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
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The three-point plan was announced during remarks at the annual meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
